# NTSB ANC05CA062: Cessna 180, N4563B, Anchorage, AK, April 25, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 25, 2005, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.2, -149.833328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2000&lon=-149.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61385/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and the airplane nosing over. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind, and an inadvertent ground loop. ## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported he was landing the tundra tire-equipped tailwheel airplane on a dry, paved runway, with a slight crosswind from his right. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane went off the runway to the left, ground looped to the left, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A weather observation taken at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 280 degrees (magnetic) at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2005, about 1245 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N4563B, sustained substantial damage while landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Girdwood Airport, Girdwood, Alaska, about 1100. During an on scene conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 25, about 1315, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 24, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down on the dry, paved runway, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and the airplane veered to the left. He said he attempted to correct to the right, but the airplane went off the runway, ground looped to the left, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. Merrill Field weather observation at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 280 degrees (magnetic) at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4563B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4563B), registered now, S/N 31462 (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: 31462 - Engines: Continental O-470 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary R. LaRose - Registered owner: Gary R. LaRose - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AQY, Girdwood, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 24 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 5,500 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 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 20050425007849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050425007849A), Apr 25, 2005: Cessna 180, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The PIC [privacy data omitted] landed at Merrill field runway 24 with about an 8 to 10 knot quartering left tail wind. The aircraft is equipped with gar… ## Other investigations on N4563B (4) 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 ANC02LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA118), Sep 8, 2002: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Port Heiden, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind. - [NTSB ANC99LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA154), Sep 26, 1999: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the touchdown point. A factor in the accident was the uneven terrain. - [NTSB ANC93LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA182), Sep 21, 1993: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Pumice Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE WIND INFORMATION, AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND. - [NTSB ANC79DAG93](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAG93), Aug 26, 1979: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage 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.