# Accident 19980918025579A: Cessna 180, Chalkitsik, AK, September 18, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 18, 1998, 11:30 local time - Place: Chalkitsik, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 66.6391° N, 143.7800° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.6391&lon=-143.7800&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9407C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9407C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 180 (registry code 2072602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Reported engine: CONT O470K - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,895 total, 477 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA153) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980918025579A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1998, ABOUT 1130 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N9407C, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP LOCATED ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHALKITSIK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ACCIDENT AIRSTRIP, ABOUT 1125. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 22, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THREE ROUND TRIPS FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRSTRIP, FERRYING PASSENGERS AND SUPPLIES. HE STATED THAT DURING THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF RUN, ABOUT ONE QUARTER WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN WHEELS SANK INTO ABOUT 10 INCHES OF SOFT MUD. THE AIRPLANE TEN NOSED OVER, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND RUDDER. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT ANOMALIES WITH HE AIRPLANE. (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1998, ABOUT 1130 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N9407C, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP LOCATED ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHALKITSIK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ACCIDENT AIRSTRIP, ABOUT 1125. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 22, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THREE ROUND TRIPS FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRSTRIP, FERRYING PASSENGERS AND SUPPLIES. HE STATED THAT DURING THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF RUN, ABOUT ONE-QUARTER DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN WHEELS SANK INTO ABOUT 10 INCHES OF SOFT MUD. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, AND RUDDER. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED TAKE-OFF FROM A WATER SOAKED DRY LAKE BED. AIRCRAFT ACCELERATING NORMALLY BUT ENCOUNTERED MUD THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN BY TALL GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DECELERATE AFTER THE WHEELS ENTERED THE MUD. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKE-OFF BUT THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. ## 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 ANC98LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA153), Sep 18, 1998: Cessna 180 (N9407C), Chalkitsik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to identify an unsafe/hazardous condition. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain conditions. ## Other reports on N9407C (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19950820025439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820025439A), Aug 20, 1995: Cessna 180 (N9407C), Fort Yukon, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to depart high grass area. Wing hit tall willow bushes. Collapsed left gear. Bent wing. Landed to aid a pilot - [Accident 19800217003019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800217003019A), Feb 17, 1980: Cessna 180 (N9407C), Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on frozen lake while airplane was drifting sideways. Ski caught in crusted snow. Nosed over. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.