# NTSB ANC05CA145: Cessna 180, N4707U, McGrath, AK, September 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2005, 17:45 local (Sep 4, 2005, 01:45 UTC) - Place: McGrath, AK - Coordinates: 62.083332, -154.666671 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0833&lon=-154.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62471 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62471/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA145 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. ## 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 - terrain condition - sand bar - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - sand bar - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4707U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4707U), registered now, S/N 18051407, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180g) (registry code 2072616) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051407 - Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Bush Safari Co. - Registered owner: Joseph N. Darminio - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Sleetmute, AK - Destination: McGrath, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 2,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## 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 20050903022559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050903022559A), Sep 3, 2005: Cessna 180G, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) I contacted [privacy data omitted] ^ (NTSB) and he said that he has been trying to contact the pilot and has not been able to talk to him. The pilot is… ## Other investigations on N4707U (2) 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 SEA99LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA091), Jun 19, 1999: Cessna 180G (N4707U), Kalispell, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with a crosswind gust, which was not possible to compensate for. - [NTSB ANC81DAG78](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG78), Sep 12, 1981: Cessna 180 (N4707U), Egegik, 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.