# Accident 20170129005389A: Cessna 180B, Chakachchakacha, AK, January 29, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2017, 15:00 local time
- Place: Chakachchakacha, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.2200° N, 152.1600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2200&lon=-152.1600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5222E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5222E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180B (registry code 2072606, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 80 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170129005389A

## Narrative

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

LIST OF EVENTS 29JAN2017

I DEPARTED LAKE HOOD STRIP WITH MY DAUGHTER AND FATHER IN LAW FOR KENAI. MY DEPARTURE NOTIFICATION TO FAMILY VIA TEXT FAILED TO INCLUDE EXPECTED ROUTE OR ETA AND I CHOSE NOT TO FILE A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH FSS. I DIVERTED FROM MY ROUTINE FLIGHT PROFILE TO SIGHTSEE AND TEST CONDITIONS AT THE MT. SPUR UNIMPROVED STRIP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHAKACHAMNA VALLEY, I FAILED TO NOTIFY FAMILY OF THE CHANGE.

I DRAGGED THE LANDING AREA 3 TIMES BEFORE DECIDING ON THE FOURTH PASS TO ATTEMPT A FULL STOP LANDING. THIS DECISION TO TRANSITION FROM INSPECTING THE STRIP TO FULL STOP LANDING AT THE SITE WAS A CRITICAL DECISION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN INTENSE RISK MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATION.

ON 3 POINT TOUCHDOWN AT FLAPS 40 AND ESTIMATED 40MPH I FOUND THAT THE SNOW WAS DRIFTED DEEPER THAN EXPECTED AND DECELERATION WAS TOO RAPID. MY INITIAL INCREASE IN POWER WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND I PULLED POWER OFF AS WE BEGAN TO DIG IN. THE UNEXPECTED DEPTH OF SNOW DRIFT DID NOT ALLOW ME TO KEEP THE TAIL DOWN AS WE ROLLED OUT AND BEGAN TO NOSE OVER.

THE PROPELLER AND NOSE CONE DUG IN FOR ABOUT 2-3 FEET UNTIL WE INVERTED AND SLID THE FINAL 8-10 INCHES TO FULL STOP. INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE WAS BRIEF AND DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING BEYOND PROPELLER, TAIL STROBE AND TRIM CAP OF VERTICAL STABILIZER. I MANUALLY ACTIVATED THE ELT AS SOON AS WE HAD ALL CHECKED FOR INJURY AND CHECKED FOR FIRE HAZARD. ALL 3 OF US WERE UNINJURED. VHF COM RADIO AND CELL PHONE WERE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT. SHELTERING IN THE AIRPLANE WITH SHARED SLEEPING BAG AUGMENTED BY ENGINE COVER WAS CHOSEN AFTER A FIRE WAS ESTABLISHED AWAY FROM THE PLANE. COAST GUARD RESCUE HELICOPTER WAS ESTIMATED 27 HRS LATER AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCH EFFORTS.

I HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN MY PERSONAL TRAINING AND PREPARATION AS:

1.	FLIGHT PLAN QUALITY

2.	VERBAL RISK ASSESSMENT

3.	SOFT FIELD LANDING

4.	SURVIVAL GEAR QUALITY AND FAMILIARITY

SINCERELY,

## 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 GAA17CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA134), Jan 30, 2017: Cessna 180 (N5222E), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to land on a snow-covered airstrip with a tundra tire-equipped airplane, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Other reports on N5222E (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19900322008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900322008599A), Mar 22, 1990: Cessna 180B (N5222E), Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control and crashed, landing in a remote area.

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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