# NTSB ANC94LA040: Cessna 180, N2423F, Eureka Lodge, AK, March 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 1994, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Eureka Lodge, AK - Coordinates: 62.099781, -145.530914 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0998&lon=-145.5309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2490/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA040 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON THE HIGHWAY ALONGSIDE THE SHELTON AIRSTRIP BECAUSE THE SNOW CONDITIONS APPEARED TO BE BETTER ON THE HIGHWAY THAN ON THE AIRSTRIP. DURING THE LANDING THE PILOT NOTED A HIGH SNOW BERM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND WHILE AVOIDING THE LEFT BERM THE RIGHT WHEEL ENCOUNTERED DEEP SNOW. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT INTO THE DEEP SNOW AND OVERTURNED. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 1994, at 0850 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N2423F, operated by K. O. Air of Anchorage, Alaska, lost directional control during a highway landing, collided with a snow berm and overturned. The commercial pilot and his three family members on board had departed Anchorage at 0750 on a VFR flight plan to McCarthy, Alaska. Cancelling the flight plan at 0841, the pilot was attempting a landing on the Glenn Highway alongside the Skelton Airstrip at the Eureka Lodge when the accident occurred. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage and there were no injuries. The pilot told the NTSB that during roll-out on the highway he encountered a high snow berm shoulder on the left, previously not discernable from overhead. Avoiding the left snow berm, his right main wheel dug into deep snow on the right side, and he lost directional control resulting in the collision with the right snow berm. He said that the airplane was equipped with 24 inch balloon tires and that the highway was clean and bare. He also said that he chose the highway due to the snow condition on the Skelton Strip across from the lodge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2423F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2423F), registered now, S/N 18051623, built 1965 (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: 51623 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kirk Olsen, doing business as K.O. Aviation - Registered owner: Kirk Olsen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 2, 1993, 41 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,541 total, 457 in this make and model, 1,480 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 9 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 5 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: 5GN, 80 nm away ## 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 19940318005939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940318005939A), Mar 18, 1994: Cessna 180, Eureka Lodge, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing on a highway struck snow berm. Skelton strip at Lodge was unplowed. ## Other investigations on N2423F (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 ANC16CA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16CA027), May 14, 2016: Cessna 180 (N2423F), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the loose dirt and gravel deposited in the center of… - [NTSB NYC74FHJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74FHJ02), Jul 4, 1973: Cessna 180H (N2423F), Gilgo Beach, NY, 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.