# Accident 19981015035509A: Cessna 180, Anchorage, AK, October 15, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 15, 1998, 08:45 local time - Place: Anchorage, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.1608° N, 149.9893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1608&lon=-149.9893&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4955A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4955A-2012-12-18) (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: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 676 total, 242 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA004) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981015035509A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON OCTOBER 15, 1998, ABOUT 0830 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N4955A, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT AN OFF AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 18 MILES WEST OF ANCHORAGE, 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 COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT ELMONDORF AIR FORCE BASE, ANCHORAGE, ABOUT 0800. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON OCTOBER 15, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON A REMOTE DIRT ROAD, COMMONLY USED BY LOCAL PILOTS AS AN AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE WEST HE ENCOUNTERED WINDS FROM THE NORTH AT 15 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN A STRONG GUST OF WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT WHEEL CONTACTED LOOSE GRAVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REGAIN FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND THE LEFT WHEEL STRUCK A BERM. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AND FUSELAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (.4) THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS LANDING TO THE WEST ON A REMOTE DIRT ROAD. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, A STRONG GUST OF WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT WHEEL CONTACTED LOOSE GRAVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REGAIN FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND THE LEFT WHEEL STRUCK A PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AND FUSELAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE WEST HE ENCOUNTERED WINDS FROM THE NORTH AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN A STRONG GUST OF WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT WHEEL CONTACTED LOOSE GRAVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REGAIN FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND THE LEFT WHEEL STRUCK A BERM. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AND FUSELAGE. ## 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 ANC99LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA004), Oct 15, 1998: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and loose gavel. ## Other reports on N4955A (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20110527009869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110527009869A), May 27, 2011: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Birchwood, AK, Destroyed, 5 fatal. On may 27, 2011, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, (AKDT), a conventional wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4955A, was destroyed shortly after takeoff from… - [Accident 20001214041839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001214041839A), Dec 14, 2000: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) This matter is still under investigation. An amendment will be submitted when more information is obtained. - [Incident 20000806020599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000806020599I), Aug 6, 2000: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Skwenta, AK, Minor damage. (-23)The pilot was preparing to land on a beach at lake creek and the yentna river. He stated that he did two fly by's to inspect the landing area. Just after… - [Incident 19940410023839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940410023839I), Apr 10, 1994: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Kenai, AK, Minor damage. Aircraft veered right on landing,over corrected left rudder and brake. Tipped over on nose and left wing. 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.