- Date
- March 12, 2004, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chugiak, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7937VCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040312006419A
- Case key
- 58908
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and an on ground collision with a snow bank. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private certificated pilot reported that he was landing on runway 1L, which required a correction for a 7 knot left crosswind. The pilot stated that after touchdown, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to veer to the right, and off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels subsequently struck a snow bank, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On March 12, 2004, about 1200 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N7937V, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, 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 private certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1130.
During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on March 12, the pilot reported that was landing on runway 1L, which required a correction for a 7 knot left crosswind. The pilot stated that after touchdown, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to veer to the right, and off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels subsequently struck a snow bank, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The pilot did not complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7937V
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051873
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles M. Sage
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Z41 · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- BCV · Chugiak, AK
- Airport
- BCV · Birchwood, runway 1L, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.