- Date
- April 11, 2017, 18:00 local (Apr 12, 2017, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2144ZCessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170411005719A
- Case key
- 95000
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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with crosswind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during landing and as the tailwheel was settling on the runway, there was an "apparent change in wind direction," and the airplane veered left. He attempted to correct by applying right rudder and brake, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported that the was wind from 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 2L.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during landing as the tailwheel was settling on the runway, there was an "apparent change in wind direction" and the airplane veered left. He attempted to apply correction with right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 2L.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2144Z
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051244
- Built
- 1963
- Airframe hours
- 4,710
- Engine
- Continental O-470-50, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 28, 2016
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- ENA · Kenai, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- ENA · Kenai Muni, runway 2L, 7,855 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 2, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 414 total · 35.5 in this make and model · 323 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.36 inHg
- Observed at
- PAEN
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
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 N2144Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.