- Date
- August 2, 1999, 20:00 local (Aug 3, 1999, 04:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sand Point, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N49JTCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report June 23, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990802024699A
- Case key
- 47161
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was a large rock.
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 certificated commercial pilot, with one passenger aboard, was landing on a remote gravel-covered beach. During the initial touchdown, the left main wheel struck a large rock, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot was able to correct for the veer, and brought the airplane to a stop. A postlanding inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage at the left main landing gear attach point, and the left door post assembly. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 2, 1999, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N49JT, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote beach site, located about 18 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, at 55.13 north latitude, 160.50 west longitude. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the sole passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated about 1945 from Unga Village, Alaska.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 12, the pilot reported he was landing on a gravel-covered beach. He stated that during the initial touchdown, the left main wheel struck a large rock, and the airplane veered to the left. He said that he was able to correct for the veer, and brought the airplane to a stop. A postlanding inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage at the left main landing gear attach point, and the left door post assembly. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N49JT
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30834
- Engine
- Lycoming O-470K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Shumagin Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Unga Village, AK
- 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,400 total · 5,400 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °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 N49JT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.