# Accident 20110527009869A: Cessna 180, Birchwood, AK, May 27, 2011 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 27, 2011, 10:15 local time - Place: Birchwood, AK - Airport: Birchwood - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.4147° N, 149.5067° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4147&lon=-149.5067&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 MOTOR O-470 SERIES - People aboard: 5 - Fatal injuries: 5 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 198 total, 3 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC11FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA037) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110527009869A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MAY 27, 2011, ABOUT 1000 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, (AKDT), A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N4955A, WAS DESTROYED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT (BCV), CHUGIAK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BY THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA. THE FIVE PEOPLE ABOARD INCLUDING THE PILOT WERE ALL FATALLY INJURED ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AND THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BCV, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 AKDT. THE REPORTED PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TRANSPORTATION TO SELDOVIA, ALASKA, FOR THE THREE DAY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. EYEWITNESS REPORT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 19R AT AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE ANGLE HEADING TOWARDS A ROW OFF FIFTY FOOT HIGH TREES WHICH BORDER THE AIRPORT TO THE EAST. IT APPEARS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER THE TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT JUST BEYOND THE TREES IMPACTING THE TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY. THE IMPACTED TERRAIN IS A LEVEL RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY AT APPROXIMETLY THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE WITH ONLY THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF BOTH WINGS AND TAIL SECTION REMAINING NOT COMPLETELY BURNED. THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY IS THE BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT. THE AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATION SYSTEM AT THE BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT WAS REPORTING AT 1816Z: WIND, 250 DEGREES (TRUE) AT 4 KNOTS, VISIBILITY, 10 STATUTE MILES; CLEAR; TEMPERATURE, 55 DEGREES F; DEW POINT,40 DEGREES F; ALTIMETER, 27.85 IN. HG. ## 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 ANC11FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA037), May 27, 2011: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model, his lack of… ## Other reports on N4955A (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [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… - [Accident 19981015035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981015035509A), Oct 15, 1998: Cessna 180 (N4955A), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (.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… - [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.