# NTSB ANC04LA066: Cessna 180, N4685A, Anchorage, AK, June 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2004, 18:34 local (Jun 21, 2004, 02:34 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.213611, -149.844451 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2136&lon=-149.8445&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 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards Distict Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve, and the left wingtip and propeller striking the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the installation of oversized tires on the main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,oversized tires (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose down, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The private pilot was landing a tailwheel airplane equipped with oversized main tires on a warm asphalt runway. He reported that during the landing roll, the airplane lurched to the right, and he was unable to regain directional control. The airplane subsequently struck the left wing and propeller on the runway, and came to a rest nose down on the runway. The pilot stated the tailwheel airplane was equipped with oversized tires, and that the combination of large tires and warm runway surface may have made the airplane more difficult to control. He also noted that he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2004, about 1834 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4685A, received substantial damage following a loss of control and collision with the runway during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The 14 CFR Part 91 cross country personal flight was operated by the pilot/owner in visual meteorological conditions. The flight departed Homer, Alaska, about 1715, en route to Merrill Field, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on June 23, the pilot related that during the landing roll on runway 24, the airplane lurched to the right. He said he was unable to maintain directional control despite the application of left rudder, and the airplane subsequently ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left wing and elevator struck the runway and received structural damage. The airplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The pilot noted that the tailwheel airplane is equipped with oversized main landing gear tires, and that the combination of the larger tires and warm runway surface conditions may have made the airplane more difficult to control. He also stated that he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4685A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4685A), registered now, S/N 32282, built 1956 (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: 18032282 - Airframe hours: 2403 - Engines: Continental O-470K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter C. Schaab - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2004, 24 hours before - Departed: HOM, Homer, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 24, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 26, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 615 total, 138 in this make and model, 615 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 20040620013189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040620013189A), Jun 20, 2004: Cessna 180, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 20, 2004, Mr. Schaab, pilot-in-command of N4685A, a Cessna CE-180 on wheels, was landing on runway 24 at the Merrill Field Airport here in… ## Other investigations on N4685A (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 ANC05CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA066), Apr 27, 2005: Cessna 180 (N4685A), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an on ground encounter with terrain during the landing roll, and subsequent nose down of the airplane. A factor associated with… 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.