# NTSB ANC05CA138: Cessna 180, N8624X, Aniak, AK, September 6, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2005, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Aniak, AK
- Coordinates: 60.750556, -158.862228
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7506&lon=-158.8622&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62411
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62411/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA138

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a collision with brush during the landing flare.  A factor contributing to the accident was high vegetation.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was landing at a remote airstrip.  During the landing flare, the private pilot reported that the left wing of the airplane collided with high brush, and during the subsequent impact with terrain, the airplane received damage to the right wing, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the stabilizer.

## Factual narrative

On September 6, 2005, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N8624X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with bushes and the ground during the landing approach to a remote airstrip, about 53 miles southeast of Aniak, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and 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 September 7, the pilot's spouse reported that the pilot made a satellite phone call to her to report the accident.  The pilot indicated that during the landing flare, the left wing of the airplane collided with high brush.  During the subsequent impact with the ground, the airplane received damage to the right wing, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the stabilizer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8624X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8624X-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N 18051024, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051024
- Engines: Continental O-470-L reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jason W. Brooks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Port Alsworth, AK
- Destination: Aniak, AK
- Airport: N/A, Cinnabar

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 415 total, 268 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## Other investigations on N8624X (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 NYC67D0536](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67D0536), Feb 10, 1967: Cessna 180 (N8624X), Greenville, ME, 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.

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