# NTSB ANC02LA041: Cessna 180, N9024M, Skwentna, AK, May 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2002, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.833332, -150.633331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8333&lon=-150.6333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA041 ## Probable cause A total engine failure during cruise flight due to the disentegration of the number five cylinder piston. A contributing factor in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,piston - disintegrated (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was in cruise flight in a float-equipped airplane. He initiated a cruise climb, and heard a "snap" sound from the engine. The engine began to shake and vibrate, and was producing metal-to-metal sounds as it lost power. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a small lake. The airplane touched down on the lake, but then collided with the shoreline and trees during the landing. The pilot said the lake was too small to successfully stop the airplane. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, and both wings. The pilot said he sold the airplane, "as is, where is," to a salvage company. Personnel from the salvage company reported that their examination of the engine revealed a failure of the number five cylinder piston. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2002, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9024M, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees during a forced landing, about 13 miles east of Skwentna, 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, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1355. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regional Operations Center notified the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 18, that the accident airplane had crashed, and an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was being received from the accident site. The pilot and passenger were rescued by helicopter. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on May 28, the pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight. He initiated a cruise climb, and heard a "snap" sound from the engine. The engine began to shake and vibrate, and was producing metal-to-metal sounds as it lost power. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a small lake. The airplane touched down on the lake, but then collided with the shoreline and trees during the landing. The pilot said the lake was too small to successfully stop the airplane. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, and both wings. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that the engine accrued 1,204.6 hours since the last overhaul. The pilot said he sold the airplane, "as is, where is," to a salvage company in Big Lake, Alaska. On October 24, 2002, personnel from the salvage company reported that their examination of the engine revealed the number five cylinder piston had disentegrated. The piston connecting rod, wrist pin, and the engine crankshaft were intact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9024M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9024M), registered now, S/N 18052124, built 1970 (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: 18052124 - Airframe hours: 3849 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald Burkevich - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 6 hours before - Departed: PALH, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: CHELATNA LAKE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 4, 1998; seat: left; flight hours: 13,768 total, 500 in this make and model, 8,587 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg ## 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 20020518011469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020518011469A), May 18, 2002: Cessna 180H, Skwentna, AK, No damage. (-23) Float equipped aircraft departed lake hood, anchorage, Alaska to cheltana lake. At approximately 1430 hours pilot heard a "snap" sound from the engine… ## Other investigations on N9024M (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 CEN21LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA331), Jul 19, 2021: Cessna 180 (N9024M), Brenham, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a rough field. - [NTSB SEA75DYG21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75DYG21), Mar 4, 1975: Cessna 180 (N9024M), Yakima, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54794. 537 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.