# NTSB ANC09TA068: Cessna 180A, N4UA, Anchorage, AK, July 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 16, 2009, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.213611, -149.844451 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2136&lon=-149.8445&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09TA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74307/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74307 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09TA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local public use flight to demonstrate navigation technology to FAA personnel. According to the pilot, during the landing roll a gust of wind lifted the left wing, the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2009, about 0945 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped, Cessna 180A airplane, N4UA, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the University of Alaska as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 16, the pilot said the purpose of the local flight was to demonstrate navigation technology to three passengers, all of whom were employees of the Federal Aviation Administration. He said upon returning to land, he noted that the winds on approach were unstable. In a written statement to the NTSB the pilot reported that after landing, "All of a sudden the left wing went up abruptly, slamming the right wing into the runway." He wrote that the right wing striking the ground caused the airplane to veer to the right, but he was able to keep the airplane on the runway. He indicated that it must have been a strong gust of wind that lifted the left wing. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, and right horizontal stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4UA), registered now, S/N 32851 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A - 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: 32851 - Airframe hours: 2440 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: Anchorage Community College - Registered owner: Anchorage Community College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2008 - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 10,727 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 10,637 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 20090716047589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090716047589A), Jul 16, 2009: Cessna 180A, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. According to the pilot in command, he made a normal approach to a three point landing. He does not remember "bouncing' on the landing. During the rollout, the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74307. 766 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 766 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.