# NTSB ANC87LA073: Cessna 180, N2940C, Naknek, AK, May 29, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1987, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Naknek, AK
- Coordinates: 59.389789, -151.659378 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3898&lon=-151.6594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4852
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4852/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA073

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ABANDONED ARPT ON AN UNMAINTAINED DIRT TAXIWAY ADJOINING THE GRAVEL RWY INORDER TO REDUCE THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT. THE ACFT HIT A SOFT SPOT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND NOSED OVER. THE U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE'S ALASKA AVIATION SUPPLEMENT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING NOTATION REGARDING THE RWY: 'RWY CONDITION NOT MONITERED, RECOMMEND VISUAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO USING; 1100 FOOT EXTENSION IS ROAD AND TAXIWAY JOINING TWO RUNWAYS NOT CLASSIFIED AS PART OF RUNWAYS.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2940C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2940C-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 30840, built 1954 (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: 30840
- Airframe hours: 3230
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Monte B. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1987, 25 hours before
- Departed: AKN, KING SALMON, AK
- Destination: WSN, NAKNEK, AK
- Airport: WSN, South Naknek No. 2

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 101 total, 41 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19870529017169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870529017169A), May 29, 1987: Cessna 180, South Naknek, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft veered off the landing area. Elected to land on dirt road due to crosswind on runway.

## Other investigations on N2940C (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 ANC92LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA068), May 9, 1992: Cessna 180 (N2940C), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

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.