# NTSB ANC05CA119: Cessna 182, N6480A, Nabesna, AK, August 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2005, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Nabesna, AK - Coordinates: 62.25, -142.833328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2500&lon=-142.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62396/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing, which resulted in an on ground encounter with brush, and subsequent loss of control during an aborted landing. Factors associated with the accident were high vegetation, and a jammed elevator control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - flt control syst,elevator control - jammed (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed - Nose over, landing - aborted ## Analysis The private pilot was landing a nose wheel-equipped airplane on a gravel-covered, off airport site that was surrounded by brush. The pilot stated he inadvertently allowed the airplane to touchdown to the right of the site, and he applied full engine power to abort the landing. As the airplane began to climb, it abruptly pitched down, and the nose wheel struck the ground. The nose wheel subsequently collapsed, and the airplane nosed over on the gravel-covered site. The pilot noted that a postaccident inspection revealed a tree branch lodged in the accident airplane's right elevator. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2005, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a nose wheel-equipped Cessna 182 airplane, N6480A, sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing attempt at an off airport site, located about 10 miles southeast of Nabesna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Of the three people aboard, the private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1220. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 9, the pilot reported that he was landing at a gravel-covered off airport site that was surrounded by brush. He said that he inadvertently allowed the airplane to touchdown to the right of the site, and he applied full engine power to abort the landing. The pilot said that as the airplane began to climb, it abruptly pitched down, and the nose wheel struck the ground. The nose wheel subsequently collapsed, and the airplane nosed over on the gravel-covered site. The pilot noted that a postaccident inspection revealed a tree branch lodged in the accident airplane's right elevator assembly. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6480A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6480A-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 33280, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33280 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gordon J. Spidle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BCV, Chugiak, AK - Destination: Nabezna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 569 total, 400 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050808022669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050808022669A), Aug 8, 2005: Cessna 182, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC attempted landing on unimproved off-airport location that resulted in aircraft contacting low brush and catching the tail causing the aircraft to… 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.