# NTSB ANC01LA111: Cessna 180A, N81958, Arctic Village, AK, August 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2001, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.632225, -144.897216 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.6322&lon=-144.8972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FASO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53031/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat during a go-around. Factors in the accident were carburetor icing conditions, and high vegetation in the landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Nose over, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot intended to fly to a remote river, but the intended route of flight was obscured by clouds over nearby mountain tops. The pilot said he decided to land toward the north on a gravel bar along the river. The landing area was about 800 feet long, and 100 feet wide. The pilot said he made three low passes over the gravel bar, and then began the landing approach. He said he applied engine carburetor heat when he was abeam the landing threshold. As the airplane descended toward the ground, the pilot noticed the gravel bar contained larger rocks than he liked. He began a go-around about 30 feet above the ground by applying full engine power. The pilot said the engine sputtered and the airplane settled onto the gravel. As the airplane touched down, the engine returned to full power. The airplane lifted off, but collided with willow bushes and nosed over. The pilot said he encountered continuous carburetor icing during the flight, and applied carburetor heat every few minutes. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2001, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180A airplane, N81958, sustained substantial damage during a go-around at a remote river gravel bar, about 35 miles north of Arctic Village, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1300. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 8th, the pilot reported he intended to fly to the Hulahula River, but the intended route of flight was obscured by clouds over nearby mountain tops. The pilot said he decided to land toward the north on a gravel bar along the river. The landing area was about 800 feet long, and 100 feet wide. The pilot said he made three low passes over the gravel bar, and then began the landing approach. He said he applied engine carburetor heat when he was abeam the landing threshold. As the airplane descended toward the ground, the pilot noticed the gravel bar contained larger rocks than he liked. He began a go-around about 30 feet above the ground by applying full engine power. The pilot said the engine sputtered and the airplane settled onto the gravel. As the airplane touched down, the engine returned to full power. The airplane lifted off, but collided with willow bushes and nosed over. The pilot described the weather conditions as: Wind, 360 degrees at five to ten knots; clouds and sky condition, 3,000 feet broken; visibility, 10 miles in haze; temperature, 44 degrees F. In his statement submitted with the NTSB Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot said he encountered continuous carburetor icing during the flight, and applied carburetor heat every few minutes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81958](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81958-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 32941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180A - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32941 - Airframe hours: 4744 - Engines: Continental O-470 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael C. Holman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2000, 107 hours before - Departed: PAFA, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; 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 July 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 110 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °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 20010807020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010807020819A), Aug 7, 2001: Cessna 180A, Arcticvillage, AK, No damage. (-23) Airman stated that during the enroute phase of flight form wasilla, AK. He had encountered carburetor ice on several occasions but the carburetor heat… 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.