# NTSB ANC93LA042: Cessna 180J, N9977N, Anchorage, AK, March 9, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 1993, 18:26 local (22:26 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.210544, -149.889877 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2105&lon=-149.8899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5869/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA042

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED/DUAL STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR/PILOT IN COMMAND TO TAKE TIMELY REMEDIAL ACTION.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS COMMENCED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FAMILIARIZING THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED/DUAL STUDENT PILOT WITH THE INFLIGHT AND LANDING AND TAKEOFF CHARACTERISTICS OF HIS NEWLY ACQUIRED PLANE.  EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT, THE STUDENT HAD SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS AT SURROUNDING AIRSTRIPS ON SNOW COVERED PAVING. JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE DRY PAVEMENT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE RUDDER CONTROL PEDALS TO CORRECT THE PLANE'S GROUND PATH. THE PLANE SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED A NOSE OVER TENDENCY WHICH REQUIRED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF UP ELEVATOR TO COUNTER.  THE NOSE OVER TENDENCY CONTINUED AND THE PLANE ENDED UP INVERTED ON THE RUNWAY.  THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT HE WAS WEARING LARGE THICK SOLED BOOTS AND THAT HE MAY HAVE UNINTENTIONALLY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS MANIPULATING THE RUDDER CONTROL PEDALS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9977N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9977N-2024-09-07), registration cancelled 2024-09-07, S/N 18052632, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J
- 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: 18052632
- Airframe hours: 3556
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Chris J. Phillips
- Registered owner: Chris J. Phillips
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1992, 49 hours before
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 24, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 31,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 12,700 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 18 °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 19930309004659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930309004659A), Mar 9, 1993: Cessna 180J, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Student inadvertently used brakes to correct directional roll. Aircraft nosed over. Pilot was wearing large boots.

## Other investigations on N9977N (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 WPR23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA319), Aug 15, 2023: Cessna 180J (N9977N), Moab, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

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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