# Accident 19890522012179A: Cessna 180J, Anchorage, AK, May 22, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 1989, 15:53 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1603° N, 149.9904° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1603&lon=-149.9904&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9949N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9949N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180J (registry code 2072622, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J
- Reported engine: CONT O470R
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,422 total, 270 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC89FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890522012179A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

UNABLE TO LEAVE WATER FIRST TRY. LIFTED LATE ON SECOND TRY. UNABLE TO CLIMB. HIT TREES. OVERLOADED AND UNSKILLED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC89FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA075), May 22, 1989: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR JUDGEMENT, AND HIS LACK OF INITIAL TRAINING (NONE) IN SEAPLANE OPERATIONS.

## Other reports on N9949N (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20260818011219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260818011219A), Aug 18, 2026: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was approximately 11 miles from the runway at 2300FT, 85KTS, when the engine started to sputter and lose power. Pilot switched the fuel valve from both…
- [Accident 20180815014219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180815014219A), Aug 15, 2018: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Ambler, AK, Substantial damage. Upon landing in the kubuck sand dunes, the aircraft tipped up onto its left wing damaging the wing and tail. Pilot indicated that before landing, there…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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