# NTSB ANC99LA154: Cessna 180, N4563B, Pilot Point, AK, September 26, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1999, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Pilot Point, AK - Coordinates: 57.499919, -157.279861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.4999&lon=-157.2799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47541/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the touchdown point. A factor in the accident was the uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - touchdown - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on an approximate 1,000 feet long volcanic cinder area. He described the visibility as unlimited, the winds at five knots, and said there was light rain on the windshield. The airplane was in the landing flare when the left main landing gear contacted a two feet high tundra hummock. He said that when the main wheels touched down, the left landing gear leg collapsed. The left elevator, and left aileron sustained substantial damage. He told the IIC that he had landed in the same location numerous times, and during this landing misjudged the touchdown point. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1999, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N4563B, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport landing site about 32 miles south-southeast of Pilot Point, Alaska, at 57 degrees 02 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees 33 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight in support of the pilot's hunting lodge. The flight departed the pilot's main camp on Pumice Creek, Alaska, about 1455, to pick up clients who had been dropped off earlier in the day. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 29, the pilot stated that he was landing on an approximate 1,000 feet long volcanic cinder area. He described the visibility as unlimited, the winds at five knots, and said there was light rain on the windshield. The airplane was in the landing flare when the left main landing gear contacted a two feet high tundra hummock. He said that when the main wheels touched down, the left landing gear leg collapsed. The left elevator, and left aileron sustained substantial damage. He told the IIC that he had landed in the same location numerous times, and during this landing misjudged the touchdown point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4563B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4563B), registered now, S/N 31462 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31462 - Airframe hours: 5500 - Engines: Continental O-470 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary R. Larose - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 26, 1999, 55 hours before - Departed: PUMICE CREEK, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,250 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 5,250 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990926027819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990926027819A), Sep 26, 1999: Cessna 180, Pilot Point, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 26, 1999, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N4563B, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport… ## Other investigations on N4563B (4) 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 ANC05CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA062), Apr 25, 2005: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and the airplane nosing over. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind, and… - [NTSB ANC02LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA118), Sep 8, 2002: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Port Heiden, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind. - [NTSB ANC93LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA182), Sep 21, 1993: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Pumice Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE WIND INFORMATION, AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND. - [NTSB ANC79DAG93](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAG93), Aug 26, 1979: Cessna 180 (N4563B), Tyonek, AK, 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. --- 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.