# Accident 20140607009519A: Cessna 180H, Wasilla, AK, June 7, 2014 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 7, 2014, 13:40 local time - Place: Wasilla, AK - Airport: Wasilla - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.5728° N, 149.5356° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5728&lon=-149.5356&mi=10 - Aircraft: N91399, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91399) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 180H (registry code 2072618, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,158 total, 32 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC14LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA039) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140607009519A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE AIRMAN WAS PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) AND THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN THIS AIRCRAFT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. DURING THIS FLIGHT HE ACCOMPLISHED APPROXIMATELY 11 TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE AIRMAN NOTICED THAT ON SOME OF THESE LANDINGS, SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD TRACK VERY HARD TO THE LEFT, EVEN AFTER FULL RIGHT RUDDER WAS APPLIED. DURING THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRMAN CONDUCTED LANDINGS AT BOTH THE WASILLA AIRPORT (PAVED SURFACE) AND THE WILLOW AIRPORT (GRAVEL SURFACE), WITH THE AIRCRAFT OCCASIONALLY TRACKING TO THE LEFT AT BOTH LOCATIONS. AT THIS POINT, THE AIRMAN BECAME CONCERNED, AND DECIDED TO FLY TO THE MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT INTO MAINTENANCE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENTERED INTO A REPAIR SHOP AT THE MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE PIC, THE REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WERE BOTH MISALIGNED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TRACK TO THE LEFT. THE REPAIR SHOP ADJUSTED THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT OF BOTH LANDING GEAR AND RETURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO SERVICE. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE, THE AIRMAN FLEW THE AIRCRAFT FROM MERRILL FIELD TO THE WASILLA AIRPORT. ONCE AT THE WASILLA AIRPORT, THE AIRMAN CONDUCTED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. BOTH OF THESE LANDINGS WERE DESCRIBED AS COMPLETELY NORMAL. DURING THE THIRD LANDING, SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT PULLED VERY HARD TO THE LEFT. THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT A GO-AROUND, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF, ALONG WITH THE TAILWHEEL. BOTH WINGTIPS WERE DAMAGED INTO THE AILERON. THE LEFT ELEVATOR WAS DAMAGED AT THE TIP. THE PROP STRUCK THE GROUND. THE WEATHER AT THE WASILLA AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS VFR. THE AIRMAN DESCRIBED THE WINDS AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE, NO LIMITATIONS TO VISIBILITY, AND A DRY RUNWAY IN GOOD CONDITION. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT HE OWNS A CESSNA 185, AND THAT THIS CESSNA 180 HANDLED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THE AIRMAN HAS APPROXIMATELY 1158 TOTAL PILOT HOURS, OF WHICH AT LEAST HALF OR MORE IS IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT. THE AIRMAN APPEARS TO BE VERY SAFETY CONSCIOUS, AS HE HAS ATTENDED SAFETY SEMINARS IN THE AREA, AND HAS FLOWN AIRCRAFT SIMULATORS AT THE MEDALLION FOUNDATION. THE AIRMAN ALSO STATED THAT IN MARCH OF 2013, HE TRAVELED TO LAS VEGAS TO RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TAILWHEEL TRAINING AT SPECIFIC AIRPORTS THAT CONSISTENTLY HAVE STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. MOST ADMIRABLY, THE AIRMAN STATED THAT THE DAY AFTER THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HE OBTAINED ADDITIONAL TAILWHEEL INSTRUCTION FROM A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND OBTAINED A BI-ANNUAL FLIGHT REVIEW, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT DUE FOR ONE. ## 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 ANC14LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA039), Jun 7, 2014: Cessna 180H (N91399), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and an attempted go-around, which resulted in collision with terrain. ## Other reports on N91399 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20051120029889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051120029889A), Nov 20, 2005: Cessna 180H (N91399), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft on the take-off roll veered left hit a snow berm, flipping on its back causing substantial damage to the airframe. There were no injuries… - [Accident 19790609037049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790609037049A), Jun 9, 1979: Cessna 180 (N91399), St Marys, AK, Substantial damage. Plane encountered strong gusty crosswind on takeoff roll. Pilot lost control. Acft ground looped. 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.