# NTSB ANC04LA007: Cessna 180, N49JT, Skwentna, AK, November 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 9, 2003, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.734722, -151.967224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7347&lon=-151.9672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58331/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of deep/soft snow. ## 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(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing the tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote area where he had landed in the past. The area was covered by what the pilot said he thought was about 3 inches of powder snow. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires sank in deep and crusty snow, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The landing area was actually covered by about 14 inches of snow, not 3 inches. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 2003, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N49JT, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote area, about 25 miles southwest of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska, about 1400. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator on November 10, the pilot reported that he was landing at a remote area where he had landed in the past. The area was covered by what the pilot said he thought was about 3 inches of powder snow. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires encountered and sank in crusty and deep snow, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The pilot said the landing area was actually covered by about 14 inches of snow, not 3 inches. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49JT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N49JT), registered now, S/N 30834, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30834 - Airframe hours: 8872 - Engines: Continental O-470MCK 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William M. Bargabos - Registered owner: Fenix Dairy LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2002, 235 hours before - Departed: BGQ, Big Lake, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 17, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,881 total, 520 in this make and model, 1,760 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F ## Other investigations on N49JT (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 ANC99LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA115), Aug 3, 1999: Cessna 180 (N49JT), Sand Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was a large rock. 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.