# NTSB ANC99LA157: Cessna 180, N2294C, Palmer, AK, September 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 1999, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620761, -148.979492 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6208&lon=-148.9795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (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): 47686 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47686/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's choice of unsuitable terrain for taxi, and inadequate compensation for high winds. Factors associated with this accident were the muddy ground, and the winds of 25 knots gusting to 40 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, taxi - from landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing the airplane after landing on a gravel and clay bar the second time that day. He said the ground was soft and muddy, so he kept the airplane moving so it would not become stuck. The wheels bogged down during the taxi, the airplane nosed down, and the wind carried the airplane over onto its back. The vertical stabilizer and the right wing outboard of the lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot said the visibility was 5 miles in rain, and the winds had increased from the first trip, and were 25 knots, with gusts to 40 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 1999, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N2294C, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport landing site about 25 miles east of Palmer, Alaska, at 61 degrees 19 minutes north latitude, 148 degrees 28 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed the Anderson Lake Airstrip, Palmer, about 1100 on the second trip that day to the pilot's hunting camp. 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 October 13, and in his Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that he was taxiing after landing on a gravel and clay bar. He said the ground was soft and muddy, so he kept the airplane moving so it would not become stuck. The pilot said the wheels bogged down during the taxi, the airplane nosed down, and the wind carried the airplane over onto its back. The vertical stabilizer and the right wing outboard of the lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated the ceiling was about 5,000 feet overcast, and the visibility was 5 miles in rain. He indicated the winds had increased from his earlier trip to the same location, and were blowing from the northwest at 25 knots, with gusts to 40 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2294C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2294C), registered now, S/N 30594, built 1953 (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: 30594 - Engines: Continental O-470J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sam Or Julianna Stenberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1993 - Departed: ANDERSON LAKE, AK - Destination: LAKE GEORGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 25 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - 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 19990918028429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990918028429A), Sep 18, 1999: Cessna 180, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 18, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N2294C, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport… ## Other investigations on N2294C (2) 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 LAX08CA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA245), Jun 15, 2008: Cessna 180 (N2294C), Atlanta, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged speed and distance during the intentional touchdown in the last half of the runway, which resulted in a landing overrun. Contributing to the accident was the muddy runway… - [NTSB ANC84LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA018), Nov 19, 1983: Cessna C-180 (N2294C), Big Lake, 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.