# NTSB ANC92LA025: Cessna 180, N91361, Atmautluak, AK, January 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1992, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Atmautluak, AK
- Coordinates: 60.810279, -161.850662 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8103&lon=-161.8507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA025

## Probable cause

THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DAWN LIGHT CONDITION AND THE SNOW ON THE RUNWAY.

## 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
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE WHEELS WENT INTO A SNOWDRIFT ABOUT 2 FT DEEP WHICH PULLED THE AIRPLANE SIDEWAYS. HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO MAKE A GO-AROUND, THEN HIT ANOTHER SNOWDRIFT ABOUT 12-16 IN DEEP. THE AIRPLANE THEN SLID OFF THE RUNWAY. THE OPERATOR'S DISPATCHER STATED HE TELEPHONED THE AIRPORT & WAS TOLD 'TO THE BEST OF HIS KNOWLEDGE THE RUNWAY CONDITION WAS GOOD'. THE AIRPORT PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PLOWING THE RUNWAY STATED THAT THE SNOWPLOW HAD BROKEN DOWN, AND TOLD THE DISPATCHER TO TELL THE PILOT TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE RUNWAY BEFORE LANDING. IT WAS TOO DARK TO CHECK THE RUNWAY EARLIER IN THE MORNING. THERE WAS NO NOTAM IN EFFECT PERTAINING TO THE RUNWAY CONDITION. THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT FLIP CAUTIONS ' RUNWAY CONDITION NOT MONITORED, RECOMMEND VISUAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO USING.' THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 15 MINUTES AFTER THE BEGINNING OF CIVIL TWILIGHT, AND 44 MINUTES BEFORE OFFICIAL SUNRISE. THE PILOT STATED BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT CONDITIONS HE DID NOT SEE THE SNOWDRIFTS BEFORE BEFORE HITTING THEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91361](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91361-2024-07-05), registration cancelled 2024-07-05, S/N 18052045, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- 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: 18052045
- Airframe hours: 10781
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hageland Aviation Services
- Registered owner: Hageland Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 19, 1991, 87 hours before
- Departed: BET, BETHEL, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: 08AK, Atmautluak, runway 15, 2,000 × 45 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,100 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F

## 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 19920106000259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920106000259A), Jan 6, 1992: Cessna 180, Atmautluak, AK, Substantial damage. Struck snowdrifts on runway landing. Turned sideways and slid off runway. Poor early dawn light was a factor.

## Other investigations on N91361 (2)

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 ANC23FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA042), Jun 16, 2023: Cessna 180 (N91361), Shaktoolik, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with gusting tailwind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a tree, a loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC76AA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA057), Dec 23, 1975: Cessna 180 (N91361), Pilot Station, 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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