# NTSB ANC99LA071: Cessna 180J, N7560K, Palmer, AK, June 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1999, 17:00 local (Jun 9, 1999, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620403, -148.979629 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6204&lon=-148.9796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46565/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA071 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the water landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - water loop/swerve - inadvertent - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was landing the floatplane with a left crosswind. After touchdown on the water, the floatplane swerved left, then nosed down, damaging the right wing, right aileron, and propeller. Postaccident inspection revealed the float struts were straight, and the length of the float flying wires varied by 3/4 inch. The pilot did not remember hitting anything with the floats, but the bottom of the right float had a one foot long crease near the forward compartment. No other mechanical anomalies were noted. The floats were installed 14 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1999, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N7560K, sustained substantial damage during landing on Wolf Lake, Palmer, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the one, pilot-rated passenger aboard were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed from Alexander Creek, Alaska, about 1630. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during an interview on June 9, that he was landing the airplane with a left crosswind. He stated that the airplane landed on the left float first. The pilot stated that when the right float touched down, the airplane swerved left. He indicated that the airplane pitched nose down, striking the right wing and propeller. The pilot did not remember hitting anything with the floats, although the right float had a one foot long crease along the keel near the forward compartment aft bulkhead. The right wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection revealed that the float struts were straight, and the lengths of the float flying wires varied by 3/4 inches. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane or floats. The floats were installed 14 hours prior to the accident. This was the second landing of the day. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7560K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7560K), registered now, S/N 18052676, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052676 - Airframe hours: 7876 - Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward L. Robertson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1999, 14 hours before - Departed: ALEXANDER CREEK, AK - Destination: 4AK6 - Airport: 4AK6, Wolf Lake, runway 27, 3,000 × ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,325 total, 100 in this make and model, 7,354 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19990608021959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608021959A), Jun 8, 1999: Cessna 180J, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. On June 8, 1999, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N7560K, sustained substantial damage during landing on Wolf lake,… 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.