# NTSB ANC24LA018: Cessna 180, N7741A, Skwentna, AK, March 10, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 10, 2024, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK · lodge
- Coordinates: 61.675814, -151.38557
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6758&lon=-151.3856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193925/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193925
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA018

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with trees.

## 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 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [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 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a ski-equipped airplane reported that while taxiing on a snow-covered airstrip for takeoff, the left ski hit a snow drift which pulled the airplane off the runway and into a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7741A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7741A), registered now, S/N 32638, built 1956 (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: 32638
- Year built: 1956
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Talaheim Air Service LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 1AK8, Talaheim, runway 18/36, 950 × 35 ft, snow
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review August 25, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 7,800 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.09 inHg
- Observed at: AWS, 53 nm away
- METAR: PAWS 101956Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC080 M02/M08 A2909 RMK AO2 SLP856 T10171083 FZRANO

## 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 20240310002519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240310002519A), Mar 10, 2024: Cessna 180, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot statement taken by phone at 1325. While back taxing on a narrow snow packed runway, with straight skis installed, at about 15 to 20 miles per hour, the…

## Other investigations on N7741A (5)

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 ANC26LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA061), Jun 20, 2026: Cessna 180 (N7741A), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ANC07CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA075), Aug 8, 2007: Cessna 180 (N7741A), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the left brake, and the pilot's continued operation with a known defect (the left brake), which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll, and an on ground encounter with…
- [NTSB ANC73AA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC73AA017), Aug 20, 1972: Cessna 180 (N7741A), Holy Cross, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC67A0049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC67A0049), Dec 21, 1966: Cessna 180 (N7741A), Bethel, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X0573](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0573), Feb 15, 1964: Cessna 180 (N7741A), Kasigluk, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193925. 955 KB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16969190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA018%20MOR%20No%20photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor no photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16968907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA108%20MOR%20No%20photos-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.

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