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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.

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NTSB Report

May 30, 2005 · Cessna 180 · N4533B

Anchorage, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 30, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Anchorage, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 180
Tail Number
N4533B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC05LA086

While conducting a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, the commercial certificated pilot said the air traffic control tower cleared him to land on runway 24, and advised the wind direction was 120 degrees at 5 knots. He said he used full flaps, and during the landing roll, the airplane ground-looped to the left. The pilot said he felt the wind was stronger than reported. No special weather observation was taken at the time of the accident, but the regular observation, taken at 1653, reported the wind as 190 at 8 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane's right wing and aileron received structural damage during the ground-loop. In a written report to the NTSB dated July 8, the pilot indicated that he failed to use the proper crosswind landing techniques.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a ground-loop, and structural damage to the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were a ground-loop, and wind gusts.

Full Narrative

On May 29, 2005, about 1650 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N4533B, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 1, the pilot said he was cleared to land by the tower on runway 24. According to a tower controller, who reviewed the control tower audio tape, the on-duty controller advised the pilot "cleared to land runway 24, wind 120 at 5." The pilot said he used full flaps, and that he felt the wind speed was higher and more of a crosswind than reported by the tower. No special weather observation was taken at the time of the accident, but the regular observation at 1553 reported winds 270 at 4 knots, and the regular observation at 1653 reported winds 190 at 8 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot said the airplane ground-looped to the left during the landing roll, and sustained structural damage to the right wing and aileron. In a written report to the NTSB dated July 8, 2005, the pilot indicated that he failed to use the proper crosswind techniques while landing.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:50 AKDT
Nearest AirportMerill Field (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180
Tail NumberN4533B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 8 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 13000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 37 C
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data