# Accident 19990404002979A: Cessna 180J, Iliamna, AK, April 4, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 4, 1999, 14:00 local time - Place: Iliamna, AK - Airport: Iliamna - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 59.8505° N, 154.5593° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8505&lon=-154.5593&mi=10 - Aircraft: N420SB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420SB) (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 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA042) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990404002979A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT CRASHED ON LANDING UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (-23) GEAR COLLAPSED DUE TO WRONG GEAR BOLT INSTALLED ON THE A/C. (.19)ON APRIL 4, 1999, ABOUT 1430 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED, CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N420SB, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING ON A FROZEN LAKE, 27 MILES SOUTH-SOTHWEST FO ILIAMNA, ALASKA. THE PILOT AND SOLE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM A FROZEN LAKE ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE ABOUT 1400. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITION PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON APRIL 9TH THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO PALMER, ALASKA, AT THE COMPLETION OF A HUNTING TRIP. HE INDICATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY DETERIORATED, WITH LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY IN SNOW SHOWERS. HE DECIDED TO LAND ON ANOTHER FROZEN LAKE AND WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO IMPROVE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR LEG SEPARATED F ROM ITS MOUNT, DAMAGING THE MAIN GEAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE PICKED UP BY A PASSING HELICOPTER. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LEGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO MONTHS. ## 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 ANC99LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA042), Apr 4, 1999: Cessna 180 (N420SB), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the main landing gear attaching bolt by maintenance personnel, which resulted in total failure of the bolt and collapse of the landing gear. ## Other reports on N420SB (6) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19910612021719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910612021719A), Jun 12, 1991: Cessna 180J (N420SB), Pilot Point, AK, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Flipped over landing on tundra. - [Accident 19881111050359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881111050359A), Nov 11, 1988: Cessna 180 (N420SB), Meshik Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Struck trees on attempted takeoff on an unimproved strip. Airborne 3 times before climbout and impact with trees. - [Accident 19881001042689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001042689A), Oct 1, 1988: Cessna 180J (N420SB), Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Struck trees stalled and crashed in to a lake while trying to land the float plane on the lake at night. - [Incident 19880310024009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880310024009I), Mar 10, 1988: Cessna 180J (N420SB), Lake Clark, AK. Snow storm. Low visibility flying through Lake Clark pass. Landed. Search and rescue sent out. Found aircraft. - [Incident 19880222012859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880222012859I), Feb 22, 1988: Cessna 180J (N420SB), Iliamna, AK. Engine surging. Precautionary landing. Suspected fuel contamination. Other fuel used. Engine operated normally. - [Accident 19850907048739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850907048739A), Sep 7, 1985: Cessna 180J (N420SB), Egegik, AK, Substantial damage. During downwind portion of taxi for takeoff, wind lifted tail and the aircraft flipped 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.