- Date
- September 23, 1998, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Port Heiden, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2204CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980923026389A
- Case key
- 44016
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent activation of the brakes during the landing roll resulting in a ground loop/swerve.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was flying lodge guests to a remote, off-airport site. During the landing roll, he said he inadvertently had his right foot on the right brake, instead of the rudder bar. He inadvertently pushed on the right brake, when he was intending to push on the right rudder bar. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the right, and the left wing/elevator struck the ground.
Factual narrative
On September 23, 1998, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N2204C, received substantial damage while landing at an off airport site about 15 miles east of Port Heiden, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the three passengers aboard were not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The operator was Painter Creek Lodge, and the purpose of the flight was to transport lodge clients to a hunting area.
During a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator on September 24, the pilot related that during the landing roll, he inadvertently depressed the right brake instead of the right rudder pedal. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the right, damaging the left wing and elevator. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2204C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18030504
- Airframe hours
- 4,394
- Engine
- Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Joe Maxen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 6, 1998 · 96 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,950 total · 150 in this make and model · 4,750 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2204C · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.