# NTSB ANC23LA062: Cessna 180J, N42610, Chaka Creek, AK, August 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2023, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Chaka Creek, AK - Coordinates: 60.943687, -150.40466 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9437&lon=-150.4047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA062 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power as a result of carburetor ice. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were performing a high pass over a remote airstrip to ensure the surface was suitable for landing. About ½ down the 850 ft airstrip, the pilot initiated a go-around with the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls in the full forward position and then realized the engine was not producing full power. With rising terrain ahead and the airspeed near the stall speed, the pilot elected to attempt a forced landing on the remaining airstrip. During the forced landing, the right main landing gear impacted brush, and the airplane spun about 120° and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and right wing. The pilot stated that the engine likely experienced carburetor icing during the approach and attempted go-around. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the pilot’s report of the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of serious icing (at cruise power). The pilot reported he did not apply the carburetor heat when the engine began to lose power due to the low altitude and airspeed during the attempted go-around maneuver. It is likely the engine sustained a partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42610](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42610), registered now, S/N 18052366 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052366 - Airframe hours: 8235 - Engines: Lycoming O-470-R-50 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2023 - Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NA - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 24, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 390 in this make and model, 6,400 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 53 °F, dew point 51 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg ## 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 20230810012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230810012219A), Aug 10, 2023: Cessna 180J, Chaka River, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot states the aircraft was not climbing on takeoff roll possibly due to carburetor icing. Pilot elected to attempt to set the aircraft back down on the… ## Other investigations on N42610 (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 FTW79DRD13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRD13), Jan 20, 1979: Cessna 182F (N42610), Venice, LA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192882. 12.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16031804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16031655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Interview%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Carburetor ice chart (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16031911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Graph-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16031217&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%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.