# NTSB ANC11CA050: Cessna 180, N3934B, Big Lake, AK, June 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2011, 20:30 local (Jun 17, 2011, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.565555, -149.851394 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5656&lon=-149.8514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 80802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during his landing approach, resulting in an undershoot and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to his private airstrip after practicing landings at a local airport. He reported the approach to his airstrip was over water, and as he approached the transition from over water to over land, he encountered a downdraft. The airplane touched down short of the landing area, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was returning to his private airstrip after practicing landings at a local airport. He said the approach to his airstrip is over water, and as he approached the transition from over water to over land, he encountered a downdraft. The airplane touched down short of the landing area, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3934B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3934B), registered now, S/N 30148, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30148 - Airframe hours: 4913 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Godin Chester A - Registered owner: Godin Chester A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 2010 - Departed: Big Lake, AK - Destination: Big Lake, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 1,092 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20110616011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110616011079A), Jun 16, 2011: Cessna 180, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot with one passenger was attempting to land at home private strip. Aircraft landed reportedly 10 feet short of end of strip and contacted water of adjacent… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80802. 148 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350696&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.