# NTSB ANC98LA024: Cessna 180H, N4751U, Tatitna, AK, March 3, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1998, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Tatitna, AK
- Coordinates: 63.610229, -154.779632 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6102&lon=-154.7796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA024

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.  A factor was the snow machine ruts creating a rough landing surface.

## Analysis

During the landing roll on a snow covered landing strip, the airplane's skis began to track in a snow machine rut, pulling the airplane to the left.  The pilot applied power and full right rudder, but the airplane continued left, striking trees on the edge of the 1,200-foot-long by 12-foot-wide landing strip.

## Factual narrative

On March 3, 1998, at 1700 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N4751U, sustained substantial damage when its left wing impacted trees during landing roll at the Tatitna landing strip, Tatitna, Alaska.  The commercial certificated pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight from Rainbow Lake in Big Lake, Alaska, to Tatitna.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator that during his landing roll, the airplane's skis encountered a snow machine rut, and began to track to the left.  The pilot said he applied power and full right rudder, but the left wing contacted willow trees on the side of the 1,200 feet long by 12 feet wide, snow covered landing strip.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4751U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4751U), registered now, S/N 18051451, built 1964 (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: 51451
- Airframe hours: 6088
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Daniel W. Plano
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 1998, 10 hours before
- Departed: RAINBOW LAKE, AK
- Destination: AK48, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AK48, Tatitna, runway 6, 1,200 × 12 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,870 total, 1,315 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19980303007329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980303007329A), Mar 3, 1998: Cessna 180H, Tatitna, AK, Substantial damage. Hit a rut landing on narrow unplowed runway. Left wing hit willow trees. (.4)during the landing roll on a snow covered landing strip, the airplane's skis began…

## Other investigations on N4751U (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 UNK65X0689](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0689), Nov 13, 1964: Cessna 180 (N4751U), St Paul, MN, 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.

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