# NTSB ANC15CA065: Cessna 180, N9588B, Homer, AK, August 22, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2015, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 60.042778, -152.592224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0428&lon=-152.5922&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 January 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91849/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91849 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## 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 pilot was landing to the south on a beach in his tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane. The pilot stated the wind was gusting about 35 knots across the beach. At the end of the landing rollout, the right tire impacted a sand drift and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane entered a ground loop, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing to the south on a beach in his tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane. The pilot stated the wind was gusting about 35 knots across the beach. At the end of the landing rollout, the right tire impacted a sand drift and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane entered a ground loop, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9588B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9588B), registered now, S/N 32885, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - 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: 32885 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 10026 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Smith Timothy E, doing business as Smith Air Charters - Registered owner: Smith Timothy E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: HOM, HOMER, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: HOM, Homer - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,600 total, 5,600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: PAHO, 41 nm away ## 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 20150822024029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150822024029A), Aug 22, 2015: Cessna 180A, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on the beach at silver salmon creek. After landing and at the end of rollout the right tire hit a sand drift and the aircraft spun around like… ## Other investigations on N9588B (1) 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 ANC06CA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA097), Jul 24, 2006: Cessna 180 (N9588B), Anchor Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with high brush during the landing flare. A factor contributing to the accident was wind gusts. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91849. 600 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 600 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.