- Date
- March 27, 2014, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- North Pole, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3125DCessna 180
- Defining event
- Taxi-into takeoff position: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140327005229A
- Case key
- 88980
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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing on a snow covered runway, which resulted in a collision with a terrain.
Findings · 4
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
Prior to departure, the pilot was taxiing a ski-equipped airplane back-and-forth on a hard-packed, snow-covered runway, to warm up the engine oil, and polish any frost that might have accumulated on the bottom of the skis. During the last taxi pass the airplane began to drift to the left. He applied full right rudder, and a short burst of full engine power in attempt to correct for the drift, but the airplane continued to the left, striking trees along the edge of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
Prior to departure, the pilot was taxiing a ski-equipped airplane back-and-forth on a hard-packed, snow-covered runway, to warm up the engine oil, and polish any frost that might have accumulated on the bottom of the skis. During the last taxi pass the airplane began to drift to the left. He applied full right rudder, and a short burst of full engine power in attempt to correct for the drift, but the airplane continued to the left, striking trees along the edge of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3125D
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31923
- Built
- 1955
- Airframe hours
- 3,098
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Henry David W
- Registered owner
- Henry David W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2013
- Departed
- 31AK · North Pole, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 31AK · Dalrymple's Airport, runway 24, 2,400 × 100 ft, snow
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 24, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 72.1 total · 23.3 in this make and model · 39.5 as pilot in command · 4.6 in the last 90 days · 3.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 85 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFB, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 521 KB in all.
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 N3125D · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.