# NTSB ANC95LA146: Cessna 180, N9407C, Fort Yukon, AK, August 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1995, 18:00 local (Aug 21, 1995, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Yukon, AK - Coordinates: 66.56034, -145.249542 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5603&lon=-145.2495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2724/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA146 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE TAKEOFF AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - high vegetation - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, takeoff ## Analysis THE PILOT LANDED ON A 'DRY LAKE BED' TO ASSIST THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE WHICH WAS MIRED IN MUD. AFTER ASSISTING THE OTHER PILOT, THE ACCIDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME TALL WILLOW BUSHES, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO SLIDE LEFT WITH THE NOSE POINTING TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1995, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9407C, registered to and operated by the pilot, struck tall willow bushes with the right wing, slid sideways, and collapsed the left main gear. The pilot was attempting to takeoff from a dry lake bed located 150 miles southeast of Fort Yukon, Alaska, at geographic coordinates 66 degrees, 16.49 minutes north, and 143 degrees, 44.49 minutes west. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the dry lake bed and the destination was Fort Yukon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on August 22, 1995, he stated he was flying over the dry lake bed, when he received a distress call from a pilot of another airplane that was stuck in the mud on the dry lake bed. He landed and assisted the other pilot. After assisting the other pilot, the accident pilot attempted to takeoff. He stated that his right wing struck the tall willow bushes located next to the takeoff area. The airplane veered to the right and began sliding to the left. The left main gear collapsed and the left wing struck the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9407C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9407C), registered now, S/N 31805, 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: 31805 - Airframe hours: 5821 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard E. Tyrrell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1995, 89 hours before - Destination: FYU, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,515 total, 198 in this make and model, 1,478 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °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 19950820025439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820025439A), Aug 20, 1995: Cessna 180, Fort Yukon, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to depart high grass area. Wing hit tall willow bushes. Collapsed left gear. Bent wing. Landed to aid a pilot ## Other investigations on N9407C (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 ANC98LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA153), Sep 18, 1998: Cessna 180 (N9407C), Chalkitsik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to identify an unsafe/hazardous condition. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain conditions. - [NTSB ANC80FAA05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80FAA05), Feb 17, 1980: Cessna 180 (N9407C), Fairbanks, 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.