# NTSB ANC98LA021: Cessna 180H, N9028M, Anchorage, AK, February 22, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 1998, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.159233, -149.990798 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1592&lon=-149.9908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3115 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3115/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway. Factors in the accident were: snow covered terrain at the approach end of the runway and flat light conditions. ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane during flat light conditions. An area of plowed snow was located at the approach end of the runway. The airplane's main landing gear touched down about 15 feet short of the plowed portion of the runway. The airplane nosed down, and slid off the edge of the runway where it then nosed over. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 1998, about 1110 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N9028M, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during landing at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane is registered to and operated by the pilot. The certificated commercial pilot, and three passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1038. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 23, 1998, at 1000, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 33 at Merrill Field. He said the lighting conditions were flat, and he inadvertently landed short of the runway. The airplane's main landing gear touched down in an area of snow, about 15 feet short of the plowed portion of the runway. The airplane nosed down, and slid off the edge of the runway where it then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the right wing tip, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - other (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9028M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9028M), registered now, S/N 18052128, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - 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: 18052128 - Airframe hours: 4110 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Munford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1997, 40 hours before - Departed: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK - Destination: MRI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 33, 2,640 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,724 total, 2,342 in this make and model, 2,619 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 19980222006699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980222006699A), Feb 22, 1998: Cessna 180H, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Undershot runway and subsequently nosed over due to touching down in uplowed snow. (.4)the pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane during flat light… 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.