# Accident 20170904020709A: Cessna 180H, Ambler, AK, September 4, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2017, 16:15 local time
- Place: Ambler, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.8744° N, 156.9317° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.8744&lon=-156.9317&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8249V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8249V) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,400 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA521) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170904020709A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WAS LOOKING FOR A BEACH TO LAND ON ALONG THE NOATAK RIVER. FOUND A GRAVEL BAR THAT LOOKED SUITABLE TO LAND. OVER FLEW THE GRAVEL BAR 2 TIMES TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO LAND. PILOT STATED HE LANDED 30 OR 40 FEET SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDING SPOT. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A FEW BIG ROCKS AND BROKE OFF THE RIGHT GEAR LEG. AFTER THE GEAR LEG BROKE OFF AIRCRAFT SPUN AND THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SPAR AND SURROUNDING AIRCRAFT SKIN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TIPPED ON ITS NOSE AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PROP AND ENGINE.

## 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 GAA17CA521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA521), Sep 5, 2017: Cessna 180 (N8249V), Ambler, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to an off-airport landing site.

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.