# NTSB ANC21LA074: Cessna 180H, N3467Y, Soldotna, AK, August 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 13, 2021, 15:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK · Soldotna Airport (SXQ) - Coordinates: 60.475139, -151.03963 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4751&lon=-151.0396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Juneau Flight Standards District Office (AW), Federal Aviation Administration (OPS) - NTSB case key (mKey): 103736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103736/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103736 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA074 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing touchdown and a left main landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Upon touchdown on the dry, paved runway, the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The airplane impacted a taxiway light, a taxiway sign, and a runway light system, causing the airplane’s left landing gear to collapse. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. A witness reported that the right wingtip dragged on the ground as the airplane veered to the left. A postaccident examination of the runway surface revealed ground scars and impact signatures on the runway surface that were consistent with simultaneous contact of the right-wing tip and right main landing gear tire on initial touchdown. Examination of the airplane found no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. Given the physical evidence found on the runway surface and the damage sustained to the airplane’s right wingtip, which indicate an unstable landing that was not corrected by the instructor before touchdown, it is likely that the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision resulted in the pilot receiving instruction’s loss of control while landing on the paved runway. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2021, about 1555 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N3467Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Soldotna Airport (SXQ), Soldotna, Alaska. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The purpose of the flight was to complete the requirements for a tailwheel endorsement. The pilot receiving instruction had successfully completed a series of touch-and-go landings on runway 25 at SXQ and was conducting another landing. The flight instructor stated that, as the airplane touched down on the paved runway, he heard a “loud thud” just as the pilot receiving instruction applied full takeoff engine power. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot receiving instruction applied full right rudder to correct the veer, but the airplane continued to veer. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, and the pilot receiving instruction stated “we’ve lost the left gear.” The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and entered an area of rough, grass-covered terrain before colliding with a taxiway sign. The airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to an abrupt stop next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. A witness to the accident reported that the right wingtip dragged on the ground as the airplane veered to the left and that the left gear impacted a sign along the taxiway. Another witness reported that the right wing was dragging on the runway for about 200 to 300 ft and that the airplane departed the runway and impacted taxiway lights, which was followed by a gear collapse. A postaccident examination of the runway environment revealed that the airplane touched down about 361 ft from the runway threshold. Ground scars, impact signatures, and tire skid marks on the runway were consistent with simultaneous contact of the right-wing tip and the right main landing gear tire. The airplane continued to veer to the left, for an additional 218 ft from the touchdown point before departing the left side of the runway. The airplane then veered slightly to the right, momentarily re entering the runway surface, but then veered to the left again. The airplane subsequently collided with a taxiway light, a sign, and a runway “wigwag” airfield light system before becoming airborne momentarily again. During the second touchdown, the airplane collided with another runway sign. The airplane wreckage came to rest in an area of rough and uneven grass-covered terrain on the left side of the runway, about 1,249 ft from the initial touchdown point. The right wing had abrasion damage on the wing tip fairing that matched witness marks on the runway. The leftmain landing gear leg was folded under the fuselage. The entire gearbox structure of the left main landing gear was torn from the fuselage, and the structure remained attached to the upper portion of the spring steel landing gear leg assembly. The airplane examination found no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3467Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3467Y), registered now, S/N 18051967, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051967 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3033 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2021, 7 hours before - Departed: AK00, Anchor Point, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SXQ, Soldotna Airport, runway 25, 2,917 × 50 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2019; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,234 total, 1,230 in this make and model, 10,150 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 272 total, 8 in this make and model, 238 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: PASX - METAR: METAR PASX 132356Z AUTO 22005KT 10SM FEW075 17/09 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP092 T01720094 10172 20122 58005 ## 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 20210813014299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210813014299A), Aug 13, 2021: Cessna 180H, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. During landing phase of flight, while receiving dual instruction, aircraft control was lost, exited runway, struck airport lights and signage, skidded sideways… ## Other investigations on N3467Y (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 ANC84LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA164), Sep 1, 1984: Cessna 180 (N3467Y), Cordova, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103736. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15644062&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC21LA074%20Point%20One_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement and wreckage exam documentation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15781463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC21LA074%20FAA%20AW%20On%20Site%20Wreckage%20Exam%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's ground track documentation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15781346&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC21LA074,%20N3467Y,%20SXQ%20Ground%20Track-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15645331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=074%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.