Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for crosswind conditions during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said he lost control of the airplane during a left crosswind landing. The wind lifted the airplane's left wing until the right wing tip dragged on the ground. The airplane then nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer, fuselage, and wings. The pilot estimated the wind velocity at 20 to 25 knots. The air traffic control tower recorded wind velocities at 12 knots. The pilot indicated on his report that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane before the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 30, 1997, at 1345 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180C, N9065N, nosed over following a ground loop during landing on runway 26 at the Camarillo, California, airport. The airplane was operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner. The airplane was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The local flight originated from Camarillo at 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported he encountered a crosswind during the landing touchdown and lost control. The wind lifted the airplane's left wing until the right wing tip dragged on the ground. The airplane then nosed over damaging the vertical stabilizer, fuselage, and wings. The pilot estimated the crosswind velocity to be 20 to 25 knots at the time of the landing. The wind conditions reported by the air traffic control tower were from 200 degrees at 12 knots. Fire and rescue personnel dispatched to the runway reported crosswinds from 200 degrees at 15 to 20 knots. The pilot indicated on his report that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane before the accident. -