# NTSB ANC11CA016: Cessna 140, N81074, Anchorage, AK, March 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2011, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.208057, -149.839996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2081&lon=-149.8400&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA016 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting 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 140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071602), [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 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [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 · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071602), [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 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane and encountered a gust of wind that lifted the left wing. The airplane ground looped to the left, striking the right wing on the runway. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway, hit a snow berm, and nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced runway, when a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane ground looped to the left, striking the right wing on the runway. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway, hit a snow berm, and nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81074](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81074), registered now, S/N 10368, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10368 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lewis M Hiatt - Registered owner: Lewis M Hiatt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Z30, Goose Bay, AK - Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 07, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 214 total, 11 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 29.29 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20110315003289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110315003289A), Mar 15, 2011: Cessna 140, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landing at Merrill Field (mri) on runway 7. Pilot (sole occupant) requests and received wind check from mri tower just prior to landing. During… ## Other investigations on N81074 (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 ANC91LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA068), Jun 10, 1991: Cessna 140 (N81074), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. - [NTSB LAX68F0199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68F0199), Oct 16, 1967: Cessna 140 (N81074), Santa Paula, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78555. 272 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 272 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345758&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.