Reno Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reno, Nevada 89502
Friday, September 16, 2011 14:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during landing, he encountered a strong gust of wind. The airplane veered and subsequently ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Reno
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89502
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392956N
Event Location Longitude 1194605W
Event Location Airport Reno
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KRNO
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 4415
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KRNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4415
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 162255Z 28017G21KT 10SM SCT085 BKN110 BKN200 162
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29166
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC LAX
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2011 7:01PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N180HR
NTSB Number WPR11CA455
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18051633
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 24 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 6095
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERTS LEON THOMAS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NOXON
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59853-0193
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ROBERTS LEON THOMAS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NOXON
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59853-0193
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 KBDN
Departure City Bend
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KRNO
Destination City Reno
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2011 7:02PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16R
Runway Length 11200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --