ANC05CA145

During a cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, the airline transport certificated pilot landed on a gravel bar. Search and rescue aircraft responded to the area of the landing site after receiving an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal. The airplane was located overturned, but the pilot declined rescue. The pilot reported via e-mail to the NTSB IIC that the airplane received damage to the propeller, a wingtip, and the top of the vertical stabilizer, and indicated that a major repair would likely be necessary. The NTSB IIC confirmed the damage to airplane with recovery personnel who reported structural damage to the fuselage at the upper left cabin, the leading edges of both wings, the top of the vertical stabilizer, and the top of the rudder.

On September 3, 2005, about 1745 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4707U, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 57 miles southeast of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Alaska Bush Safari Company, Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the Stoney River Lodge, Sleetmute, Alaska, about 1700, and no flight plan was filed.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel notified the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, 2005, that search and rescue aircraft responded to the area of the accident after receiving an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal. The airplane was located overturned, but the pilot declined rescue.

After learning that communication with the Stoney River Lodge could only be conducted via e-mail, the NTSB IIC attempted to contact the pilot on September 7, 2005. The pilot sent an e-mail message indicating that the airplane nosed over during landing on a gravel bar. In response to a request for additional information from the NTSB IIC, the pilot reported via e-mail on September 16, that the airplane received damage to the propeller, a wingtip, and the top of the vertical stabilizer, and indicated that a major repair would likely be necessary.

The pilot was sent a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) on September 14, 2005. The form was not returned by the pilot. On November 2, 2005, the NTSB IIC confirmed the damage to airplane with recovery personnel who reported structural damage to the fuselage at the upper left cabin, the leading edges of both wings, the top of the vertical stabilizer, and the top of the rudder.