# Accident 20040911024939A: Cessna 180A, Soldotna, AK, September 11, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 2004, 20:15 local time
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.3333° N, 150.5000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3333&lon=-150.5000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5304D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5304D) (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
- Reported engine: CONT O470*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC04LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040911024939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 20:15 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, N5304D, A CESSNA 180A AIRCRAFT ON EDO 2870 FLOATS, PILOTED BY STEVE BILBEN, A PRIVATE PILOT, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SMALL SWAMP AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND WAS ON A LOCAL, PERSONAL FLIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE PILOT STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT WHILE FLYING LOW (ABOUT 200 FEET AGL) ABOVE A SMALL LAKE THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICE AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE MAY HAVE APPLIED THE HEAT TOO QUICKLY SO HE TURNED THE CARBURETOR HEAT OFF THEN APPLIED IT AGAIN AT A SLOWER RATE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABLE TO CLIMB, BUT JUST BARELY. BY THIS TIME HE HAD FLOWN PAST THE SMALL LAKE HE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT AND THE IMMEDIATE AREA WAS COVERED WITH LARGE TREES. HE THEN SPOTTED A SMALL CLEARING WHICH CONTAINED A SMALL SWAMP. THE PILOT FEARED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD QUIT IF HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY BACK TO THE SMALL LAKE SO HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE CLEARING. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR THE ONE PASSENGER.

## 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 ANC04LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA106), Sep 12, 2004: Cessna 180A (N5304D), Kasiloff, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control which resulted in carburetor ice and the loss of engine power. A factor associated with the accident was the carburetor icing conditions.

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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