# Accident 19990608021959A: Cessna 180J, Palmer, AK, June 8, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 8, 1999, 17:00 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Airport: Wolf Lake Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6204° N, 148.9796° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6204&lon=-148.9796&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7560K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7560K) (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 O470S
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,325 total, 100 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608021959A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 8, 1999, ABOUT 1700 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 180J AIRPLANE, N7560K, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING ON WOLF LAKE, PALMER, ALASKA. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND SOLE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATIED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM ALEXANDER CREEK, ALASKA, ABOUT 1630. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, DURING AN INTERVIEW ON JUNE9, THAT HE WAS LANDING WITH A LEFT CROSSWIN. HE STATED THAT HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE LEFT FLOAT FIRST, THEN SET THE RIGHT FLOAT ONTO THE WATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE RIGHT FLOAT TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED LEFT. HE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE PITCHED NOSE DOWN, STRIKING THE RIGHT WING TIP AND PROPELLER. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FLOAT FLYING WIRES WERE ADJUSTED TO DIFFERENT LENGTHS. (-23) PILOT WAS LANDING ON WOLF LAKE WITH LEFT CROSSWIND. HE LANDED LEFT FLOAT FIRST, THEN SET RIGHT FLOAT ON WATER. PILOT STATES WHEN RIGHT FLOAT TOU                                                                CHED DOWN, AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT. NOSE PITCHED DOWN, STRIKING RIGHT WING TIP AND PROPELLER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FLOAT FLYING WIRES WERE ADJUSTED TO DIFFERENT LENGTHS. (.4) THE PILOT WAS LANDING THE FLOATPLANE WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND.  AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE WATER, THE FLOATPLANE SWERVED LEFT, THEN NOSED DOWN, DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT AILERON, AND PROPELLER.  POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE FLOAT STRUTS WERE STRAIGHT, AND THE LENGTH OF THE FLOAT FLYING WIRES VARIED BY 3/4 INCH.  THE PILOT DID NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANYTHING WITH THE FLOATS, BUT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT FLOAT HAD A ONE FOOT LONG CREASE NEAR THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT. NO OTHER MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE NOTED.  THE FLOATS WERE INSTALLED 14 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC99LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA071), Jun 9, 1999: Cessna 180J (N7560K), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the water landing.

## Other reports on N7560K (1)

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

- [Incident 19940304008969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940304008969I), Mar 4, 1994: Cessna 180J (N7560K), Panama City, FL, Minor damage. Pilot ground looped on a crosswind landing.

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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