Denton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denton, Texas 76207
Sunday, October 19, 2008 6:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported in a telephone interview that he planned to do proficiency landings during the early morning hours. During one of the landings, the wing began to lift and he was not able to regain directional control of the single-engine tail-wheel equipped airplane. The airplane then "ground-looped", and came to rest inverted on the runway. The pilot further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control and subsequent "ground-loop."

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 650
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Denton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76207
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331201N
Event Location Longitude 0971131W
Event Location Airport Denton
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KDTO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24572
NTSB Notification Source ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 30 2008 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1729F
NTSB Number CEN09CA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30619
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 8 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WHATLEY WILLIAM H
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1051 BURCHBURY LN
Aircraft Owner City ARGYLE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76226
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name WHATLEY WILLIAM H
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1051 BURCHBURY LN
Operator City ARGYLE
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76226
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 52F
Departure City Roanoke
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 500
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KDTO
Destination City Denton
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 30 2008 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --