# NTSB ANC01LA052: Cessna 180, N91303, Iliamna, AK, March 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2001, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.700279, -156.649993 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7003&lon=-156.6500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53191/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor associated with the accident was uneven 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, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot reported that he was landing to the northeast on a frozen slough. He said that after touchdown, he noted a football-sized clump of dirt protruding out of the ice in front of the airplane. He said that in an attempt to avoid the dirt clump, he applied full left rudder. He said that the nose of the airplane moved about 20 degrees to the left, but the ground track of the airplane continued in a straight line, and the right ski struck the dirt clump. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the frozen slough. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing leading edge and right wing main spar. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2001, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N91303, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located about 60 miles west of Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1200, from the Iliamna Airport, Iliamna. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 11, the pilot reported that he was landing to the northeast on a frozen slough. He said that after touchdown, he noted a football-sized clump of dirt protruding out of the ice in front of the airplane. He said that in an attempt to avoid the dirt clump, he applied full left rudder. He said that the nose of the airplane moved about 20 degrees to the left, but the ground track of the airplane continued in a straight line, and the right ski struck the dirt clump. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the frozen slough. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing leading edge and right wing main spar. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91303](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91303-2004-10-25), registration cancelled 2004-10-25, S/N 18052039, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - 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: 180-52039 - Airframe hours: 3354.3 - Engines: Continental O-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Albert I. Novak - Registered owner: Deborah L. Novak - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2001, 14 hours before - Departed: ILI, Iliamna, AK - Destination: Iliamna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 25, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 33,500 total, 565 in this make and model, 32,000 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1,000 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 20010328039589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010328039589A), Mar 28, 2001: Cessna 180H, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 28, 2001, Cessna 180, aircraft N91303, sustained substantial damage on landing at a remote site 60 miles west of Iliamna, Alaska. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N91303 (2) 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 ANC03LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA067), Jun 25, 2003: Cessna 180 (N91303), Anchor Point, AK, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with water for an undetermined reason. - [NTSB ANC76AA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA083), May 4, 1976: Cessna 180 (N91303), Bethel, AK, substantial damage 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.