# NTSB ANC05CA057: Cessna 180, N9028C, Anchorage, AK, April 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2005, 13:26 local (21:26 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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-Al-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61298/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA057 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9028C), registered now, S/N 31076, 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: 31076 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050410007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050410007689A), Apr 10, 2005: Cessna 180, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on rwy 6, aircraft ground looped off the runway. Pilot lost control of aircraft and wingtip struck dirt adjacent to taxiway e causing… 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.