# NTSB ANC06CA060: Cessna 180, N4814, Sterling, AK, May 24, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2006, 18:00 local (May 24, 2006, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Sterling, AK - Coordinates: 60.528888, -150.720001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5289&lon=-150.7200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 63751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in an on-ground encounter with the runway surface. Factors contributing to the accident were 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) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot was landing at a private airstrip at the conclusion of a CFR part 91 personal flight. The airstrip did not have a windsock, but the pilot said he anticipated a right crosswind, and estimated the wind as about 10 knots. He said the airplane touched down, and then bounced slightly. The airplane began to veer to the right, and he attempted to stop the turn by applying left rudder and left brake. The turn continued, and the airplane ground looped to the right, sustaining damage to the left wing, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left main landing gear. ## Factual narrative The certificated commercial pilot was landing at a private airstrip at the conclusion of a CFR part 91 personal flight. The airstrip did not have a windsock, but the pilot said he anticipated a right crosswind, and estimated the wind as about 10 knots. He said the airplane touched down, and then bounced slightly. The airplane began to veer to the right, and he attempted to stop the turn by applying left rudder and left brake. The turn continued, and the airplane ground looped to the right, sustaining damage to the left wing, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4814](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4814), registered now, S/N 32847, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32847 - Engines: Continental O-470-K reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas W. Bullard - Registered owner: Thomas Bullard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Sterling, AK - Airport: runway 24 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,350 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots ## 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 20060524010449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060524010449A), May 24, 2006: Cessna 180A, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1815 adt, on may 24, 2006, the pilot attempted to land his Cessna 180 on a 2500' gravel airstrip eight miles east of Soldotna, Alaska.… ## Other investigations on N4814 (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 ANC13LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA067), Jul 24, 2013: Cessna 180A (N4814), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control of the airplane during a wheel landing. 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.