# NTSB ANC97LA111: Cessna 180, N2707X, Umiat, AK, July 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1997, 22:00 local (Jul 24, 1997, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Umiat, AK - Coordinates: 71.28054, -156.779281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2805&lon=-156.7793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3034 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3034/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA111 ## Probable cause The collapse of the right main landing gear while taxiing to parking. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - sand bar - landing gear,main gear attachment - collapsed (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported an uneventful landing had been completed on a 3,000 foot long gravel bar. While taxiing to a parking area, the right main landing gear collapsed, allowing the right wing to strike the ground. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1997, at 2200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N2707X, sustained substantial damage while taxiing on a gravel bar in the Colville River, about 68 miles southwest of Umiat, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and the one passenger aboard were uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Umiat, Alaska, at 2100 on July 23, 1997, and the pilot stated he had filed a flight plan with an acquaintance in Umiat. The pilot said he was not due to return to Umiat for four days. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported he had completed the landing roll, and was taxiing the airplane to a parking area when the right main landing gear collapsed. He said he was unable to establish radio communications with any aircraft, and activated his emergency locator transmitter (ELT). This signal was received by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) in Fairbanks, Alaska, at 0009 on July 24, 1997. A helicopter was dispatched from Barrow, Alaska, and the pilot and passenger were recovered at 0335 on July 24, 1997. The pilot did not complete an NTSB Pilot/Operator Report as requested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2707X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2707X-2017-02-21), registration cancelled 2017-02-21, S/N 18051507, built 1965 (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: 180-51507 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregory S. Wiren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: UMT, AK - Destination: UMT, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970723023549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970723023549A), Jul 23, 1997: Cessna 180, Umiat, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported an uneventful landing had been completed on a 3,000 foot long gravel bar. While taxiing to a parking area, the right main landing gear… ## Other investigations on N2707X (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 ANC95LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA002), Oct 1, 1994: Cessna 180 (N2707X), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY'S SURFACE. 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.