Cessna 180 N4685A

Summary

On 21 June 2004 at about 02:34 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4685A was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2004 at 02:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Merrill Field (MRI)

Coordinates

61.2136, -149.8445

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4685A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homer → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04LA066

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve, and the left wingtip and propeller striking the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the installation of oversized tires on the main landing gear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was landing a tailwheel airplane equipped with oversized main tires on a warm asphalt runway. He reported that during the landing roll, the airplane lurched to the right, and he was unable to regain directional control. The airplane subsequently struck the left wing and propeller on the runway, and came to a rest nose down on the runway. The pilot stated the tailwheel airplane was equipped with oversized tires, and that the combination of large tires and warm runway surface may have made the airplane more difficult to control. He also noted that he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.