# NTSB ANC25LA076: Cessna 180H, N91393, Gulkana, AK, July 17, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 17, 2025, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Gulkana, AK - Coordinates: 62.49, -145.48 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4900&lon=-145.4800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026 - 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): 200608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200608/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200608 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA076 ## Probable cause The failure of the left rudder assembly which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown he heard a “pop” or “snap,” at which point his left foot and the left rudder pedal moved fully forward to the firewall. Left rudder control was lost, and the airplane continued down the runway as the tail swung left. Unable to regain directional control, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, ground looped, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination determined that the rudder bar assembly weld had failed at the attachment to the rudder pedal. The operator stated that the airplane is normally operated on wheel/skis, which require increased rudder pedal forces during ground operations. The operator also noted evidence of preexisting cracking along the weld that was not identified during the most recent maintenance inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91393](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91393), registered now, S/N 18052063, built 1969 (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: 18052063 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 8775 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Copper Calley Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 26, 2025 - Departed: PAGK, Glennallen, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Sanford River strip - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,698 total, 800 in this make and model, 6,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: AGK, 20 nm away - METAR: PAGK 171953Z AUTO 26005KT 10SM SCT041 18/08 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01830083 TSNO ## 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 20250717014149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250717014149A), Jul 17, 2025: Cessna 180H, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot departed gulkana airport enroute to Sanford River Airstrip to pick up passengers located near a glacier. Winds appeared very light at less than 5 knots.… ## Other investigations on N91393 (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 ANC24LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA003), Nov 21, 2023: Cessna 180H (N91393), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control after touchdown which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200608. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 9.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20161593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20298699&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Boniek_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.