# NTSB ANC00LA030: Cessna 180H, N8221V, Ophir, AK, February 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 2000, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ophir, AK - Coordinates: 55.919956, -159.490402 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9200&lon=-159.4904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 48739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi area. A factor associated with the accident was the soft, snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - airport facilities,taxiway condition - snow covered - airport facilities,taxiway condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was taxiing his ski-equipped airplane on a snow-covered taxiway. In preparation for takeoff, he said he made a left turn toward the runway, and the right main landing gear ski penetrated the snow crust, allowing the right horizontal stabilizer to strike the snow and sustain substantial damage. The U.S. Government Alaska Supplement includes an airport listing for Ophir. Under the Airport Remarks section, it reads, in part: 'Unattended. Runway not usable and not maintained.' ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2000, about 1630 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N8221V, received substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff at the Ophir airstrip, Ophir, Alaska. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed McGrath, Alaska, about 1555, en route to Ophir. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 28, the pilot/owner of the airplane related he was flying with a group of other pilots and airplanes in support of the annual Iditarod dogsled race. He said he was landing at Ophir to put in a check point. He said he landed to the east, and was turning around at the east end of the airstrip for a departure to the west. During the turn, he said the right ski penetrated the snow crust, and dropped into soft snow, allowing the right horizontal stabilizer to contact the snow. The NTSB IIC inspected the airplane on February 28 at Ward's Air in Anchorage, Alaska. The horizontal stabilizer's main spar was buckled. The U.S. Government Alaska Supplement includes an airport listing for Ophir. Under the Airport Remarks section, it reads, in part: "Unattended. Runway not usable and not maintained." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8221V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8221V), registered now, S/N 18051723, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051723 - Airframe hours: 5478 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary R. Russey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1999, 25 hours before - Departed: MCG, MCGRATH, AK - Airport: Z17, Ophir, runway 29, 1,500 × 40 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,486 total, 1,416 in this make and model, 3,057 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000225042099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000225042099A), Feb 25, 2000: Cessna 180H, Ophir, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 25, 2000, about 1630 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N8221V, received substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff… ## Other investigations on N8221V (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 ANC11CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA043), Jun 12, 2011: Cessna 180H (N8221V), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during landing. 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. --- 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.