# NTSB ANC89LA001: Cessna 180, N420SB, Wasilla, AK, October 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1988, 20:25 local (Oct 2, 1988, 04:25 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5132/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL TO LAND ON A LAKE AT NIGHT, THE PLT BEGAN A 180 DEG TURN FROM A NE HEADING AT APRX 500' AGL TO A FINAL APCH ON A SW HEADING. AS THE ACFT WAS IN THE TURN, IT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE RAPIDLY. THE PLT APPLIED POWER TO STOP THE DESCENT, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT'S FORWARD MOTION HAD BEEN NEARLY STOPPED BY THE TREES BY THE TIME IT DROPPED & CAME TO REST AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N420SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420SB), registered now, S/N 18052313 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- 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: 18052313
- Airframe hours: 3337
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Graham, Bobby
- Registered owner: Bobby Graham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1988, 77 hours before
- Departed: LAKE ILIAMNA, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,544 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 2,540 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19881001042689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001042689A), Oct 1, 1988: Cessna 180J, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Struck trees stalled and crashed in to a lake while trying to land the float plane on the lake at night.

## Other investigations on N420SB (4)

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 ANC99LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA042), Apr 4, 1999: Cessna 180 (N420SB), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the main landing gear attaching bolt by maintenance personnel, which resulted in total failure of the bolt and collapse of the landing gear.
- [NTSB ANC91LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA073), Jun 13, 1991: Cessna 180 (N420SB), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT AND ROUGH TERRAIN.
- [NTSB ANC89LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA016), Nov 11, 1988: Cessna 180 (N420SB), Meshik Lake, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC85LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA180), Sep 7, 1985: Cessna 180-J (N420SB), Egegik, AK, substantial damage

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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