# NTSB ANC94LA086: Cessna 180, N9278C, Palmer, AK, July 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 1994, 20:50 local (Jul 18, 1994, 04:50 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620922, -148.980529 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6209&lon=-148.9805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 10, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2525/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA086 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 15. THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEG AT 8 KTS. HE STATED THAT HE USED LEFT AILERON DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND RIGHT RUDDER TO REMAIN ON THE CENTERLINE. WHEN HE RAISED THE TAIL THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN, DEPARTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING AND NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 1994, at 2050 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9278C, registered to and operated by the pilot, ground looped and nosed over while trying to takeoff from the Palmer Airport, Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing Palmer Airport and the destination was Merrill Field in Anchorage, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. According to the pilot's statement, he added power slowly while using left aileron to correct for the wind. As the airplane rolled down the runway he applied right rudder to keep the airplane on the center line. He raised the tail and the airplane turned to the left. He added more right rudder and aborted the take off attempt by "cutting" the power and tried to stop the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway with the right wing lower than the left. The right wing struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9278C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9278C-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 31377, built 1955 (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: 31377 - Airframe hours: 4955 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-J 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kittoe, Daniel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 1994, 55 hours before - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: PAQ, Palmer, runway 15, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 133 total, 41 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAQ ## 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 19940717018689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940717018689A), Jul 17, 1994: Cessna 180, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on takeoff. Aborted. Exited runway. Ground looped. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N9278C (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 ANC04LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA001), Oct 10, 2003: Cessna 180 (N9278C), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the left main landing gear wheel from the gear leg, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and collapse of the right main landing gear. A factor contributing to the… - [NTSB ANC89LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA037), Oct 30, 1988: Cessna 180 (N9278C), Anchorage, 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.