# Accident 20150414004219A: Cessna 180, Valdez, AK, April 14, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2015, 18:30 local time
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Airport: Valdez Pioneer Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.7072° N, 148.1036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7072&lon=-148.1036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9247C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9247C-2018-04-18) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,650 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150414004219A

## Narrative

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

APRIL 14, 2015 N9247C, CE-180 WAS ENROUTE FROM WASILLA (IYS) TO VALDEZ (VDZ) ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRMAN WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 10,000' ATC CLEARED N9247C FOR THE APPROACH INTO VALDEZ AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO DESCEND TO 8,000'. THE AIRMAN REPORTED ENGINE TROUBLE AFTER STARTING THE DESCENT. THE LAST REPORTED ALTITUDE WAS FIVE THOUSAND FEET. ATC LOST THE AIRCRAFT ON RADAR AND THEN LOST COMMUNICATION WITH AIRMAN. THE AIRMAN PROCEEDED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TOWARDS COLROSS ISLAND AS HE  DESCENDED INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER APPROXIMATELY .4 MILES FROM COLROSS ISLAND. THE COORDINATES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT. THE COAST GUARD LAUNCHED A SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT. THE FOLLOWING DAY AROUND 5PM THE AIRMANS BODY AND ONE LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF COLROSS ISLAND. SHORTLY AFTER THE RESCUE EFFORT WAS CALLED OFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FOUND.

## 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 ANC15FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA021), Apr 14, 2015: Cessna 180 (N9247C), Whittier, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue flight into known icing conditions, contrary to the airplane’s limitations, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to icing.

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.