- Date
- April 21, 2008, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kodiak, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3043ECessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 8, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- FAA report
- 20080421835389A
- Case key
- 67913
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of control during the landing roll due to a failure or malfunction of the brake system, resulting in a loss of control, and structural damage to the airplane.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane at the conclusion of a cross-country business flight. As the tailwheel touched down, it began to wobble, and the pilot applied the brakes. The left brake was ineffective, and the airplane ground looped to the right. As a consequence, the left main landing gear axle and wheel separated from the landing gear strut, and the airplane received structural damage. The pilot indicated that he previously had a malfunction of the left brake, which was remedied by the addition of brake fluid, but he did not find any leak at that time. The airplane was not inspected by NTSB or FAA personnel.
Factual narrative
On April 21, 2008, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N3043E, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll at the Kodiak Airport, Kodiak, 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 the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip at Kasilof, Alaska, about 0930.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 21, the pilot reported that he was landing on the asphalt surface of runway 25, and as the tailwheel touched down, it began to wobble. The pilot said he applied the brakes, but the left brake was ineffective, and the airplane ground-looped to the right. The left main landing gear axle and the left main wheel, separated from the landing gear strut. The airplane received damage to the left main gear and the firewall.
In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he reported that the airplane previously had a malfunction of the left brake, but he did not specify the date of the previous problem. He said he serviced the brake system with hydraulic fluid, which resolved the problem, and indicated that he did not find a leak in the brake system.
Following the accident, the airplane was not inspected by NTSB or FAA personnel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3043E
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30898
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Brian D. Nolan
- Registered owner
- Brian D. Nolan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 8, 2007
- Departed
- Kasilof, AK
- Destination
- PADQ · Kodiak, AK
- Airport
- PADQ · Kodiak, runway 25, 7,542 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 13, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,350 total · 350 in this make and model · 1,350 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.35 inHg
- Observed at
- PADQ
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3043E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.