Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 30, 1997 · Cessna 180 · N4900A

King Salmon, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 30, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
King Salmon, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 180
Tail Number
N4900A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC97LA157

The airplane departed a rough, rocky, gravel bar. During the subsequent landing roll at the pilot's gravel strip, the plane veered to the right. As the plane decelerated, full left rudder and brake input by the pilot did not maintain directional control. The airplane departed the right side of the strip, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane nosed over. Inspection revealed that the right main landing gear was canted ten degrees to the right, and had been installed using 'Cherry Max' rivets instead of the required solid rivets.

NTSB Probable Cause

The distorted/misaligned main landing gear, and an improper maintenance repair of the main landing gear. A factor associated with the accident was rough and uneven terrain.

Full Narrative

On September 29, 1997, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped, Cessna 180 airplane, N4900A, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on a landing strip at the Kejulik River Lodge, fifty-seven miles southeast of King Salmon, Alaska, at position 57-51 degrees north latitude, 155-48 degrees west longitude. The commercial certificated pilot and the one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was in support of a hunting and fishing lodge. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a local flight from the Kejulik River Lodge to check on hunting clients. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that during the landing roll at his 900 feet long, by 20 feet wide, private airstrip, the airplane began to drift right. The pilot stated that as airspeed decreased, he applied full left rudder and brake. The right drift became uncontrollable, and the airplane departed the right side of the airstrip. The left main landing gear subsequently failed, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident inspection revealed that the right main landing gear was canted ten degrees outboard, and there were popped rivets surrounding the right gear leg. The mechanic who repaired the airplane stated that the rivets which had been used to hold the gear structure in place were "Cherry Max" rivets, instead of the required solid rivets. The landing strip from which the airplane had last departed was described by the pilot as rough and rocky.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 AKDT
Nearest AirportKejulik River Lodge (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length900 ft
Runway Width20 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180
Tail NumberN4900A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-K · Reciprocating · 230
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data