# Accident 20021029033339A: Cessna 180A, Larsonbay, AK, October 29, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 29, 2002, 16:00 local time
- Place: Larsonbay, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 57.5333° N, 153.9667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.5333&lon=-153.9667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5355D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5355D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180A (registry code 2072604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021029033339A

## Narrative

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

(-23) (PILOT WAS OUT OF TOWN ON 11/12/02 TILL 11/26/02). PILOT FLY'S FOR F & W, NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS. HAS CABIN ON A BEACH 6 MILES SOUTH EAST OF LARSEN BAY. HE SAID THE APPROACH HE HAD TO USE COMES OVER A HIGH CLIFF AND HAS TWO TREES, 60' TALL THAT ARE IN LINE. AFTER CROSSING THE SECOND TREE, DROP POWER AND SETTLE TO THE BEACH TO LAND. HE WAS DOING A LEFT BASE AND WHEN HE SAW THE TREE PASS UNDER THE AIRCRAFT, HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE SECOND TREE AND PULLED THE POWER BACK. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE AIRCRAFT WAS INTO THE SECOND TREE TOP. WHEN HE SAW THE MISTAKE IT WAS TOO LATE. AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE TREE THE PILOT COULD SEE LEFT WING DAMAGE, BUT WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING. AFTER GETTING ON THE GROUND HE FOUND THE PROP AND LEFT STRUT WERE ALSO DAMAGED. HE HAS LANDED ON THIS BEACH A HUNDRED TIMES.

## 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 ANC03LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA013), Oct 29, 2002: Cessna 180 (N5355D), Larson Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance while landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree.

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.