- Date
- April 10, 2005, 13:26 local (21:26 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9028CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 7, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA-Al-ANC FSDO 03
- FAA report
- 20050410007689A
- Case key
- 61298
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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind.
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 was landing on runway 06 when the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder without success, and then applied the brakes, but could not prevent the airplane from ground looping to the right. The left wingtip, and the outboard end of the left elevator struck the ground, receiving structural damage. At the time of the accident, the weather surface observation at the airport was reporting the wind as 240 degrees (true) at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On Aril 10, 2005, at 1326 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9028C, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, 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 Merrill Field about 1145, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required.
During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 10, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 06. He said that during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the right. He applied left rudder without success. He then applied the airplane brakes, but could not prevent the airplane from ground looping to the right. The left wingtip, and the outboard end of the left elevator struck the ground.
On April 12, the pilot reported to the NTSB IIC that a mechanic inspected the airplane. The airplane received damage to the left wing ribs, the left aileron, and the left elevator.
At the time of the accident, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting, in part: Wind, 240 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 9,500 feet broken; temperature, 45 degrees F; dew point, 25 degrees F; altimeter, 29.59 inHg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9028C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31076
- Engine
- Continental O-470K, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kelly O. Linn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PAMR · Anchorage, AK
- Airport
- PAMR · Merrill Field, runway 06
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
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 320 total · 6 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.59 inHg
- Observed at
- PAMR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.