# NTSB ANC93LA182: Cessna 180, N4563B, Pumice Creek, AK, September 21, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 1993, 21:30 local (Sep 21, 1993, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Pumice Creek, AK - Coordinates: 56.960914, -158.579803 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9609&lon=-158.5798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2432/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA182 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE WIND INFORMATION, AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE TOO STRONG AND UNSTABLE FOR A SAFE DOWNWIND TURN, SO HE REDUCED THE ENGINE POWER AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT SAID HE KNEW BEFORE THE ATTEMPTED LANDING THAT THE WINDS WERE VERY UNSTABLE, AND THAT HE HAD MISJUDGED THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 1993, at 2130 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4563B, lost control and ground looped the airplane during an off airport landing at Pumice Creek, located approximately 100 miles southeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal local flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed from another nearby remote site about 30 minutes earlier. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company flight plan was filed. Shortly after the accident during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following, in part: "I was trying to make an off airport landing in a mountain valley know as "100 mile an hour valley." I misjudged the gusy crosswind during my landing, which I made into the prevailing wind. After touchdown I decided to abort the landing because of the rough unstable air. After I got airborne again, I found the air was too unstable for a downwind turn so I cut the engine power and set back down on the strip. While trying to stop the airplane, the gusty crosswind caused the airplane to ground loop." The pilot described substantial damage done to the airplane during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4563B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4563B), registered now, S/N 31462 (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: 31462 - Airframe hours: 4835 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-7 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larose, Gary R., doing business as Larose Guide Service - Registered owner: Larose, Gary R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1993, 189 hours before - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 1,950 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 19930920039289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930920039289A), Sep 20, 1993: Cessna 180, Pumice Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Gusty severe crosswind on landing. Began go around aborted due unstable winds. Ground looped on unimproved strip. ## Other investigations on N4563B (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 ANC05CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA062), Apr 25, 2005: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and the airplane nosing over. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind, and… - [NTSB ANC02LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA118), Sep 8, 2002: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Port Heiden, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind. - [NTSB ANC99LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA154), Sep 26, 1999: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the touchdown point. A factor in the accident was the uneven terrain. - [NTSB ANC79DAG93](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAG93), Aug 26, 1979: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Tyonek, 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. --- 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.