Cessna 180 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, December 14, 2000
On December 14, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4955A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a mechanic to ensure the throttle linkage was secure. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to take remedial action during an emergency landing and overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4955A · no longer on the register · serial 32352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot had just gotten the airplane from a maintenance facility after the engine had been disassembled. The engine was reinstalled by a mechanic who made several engine runs to check for leaks and proper rigging of the engine controls. The pilot said an engine run-up to 1,700 rpm before takeoff was normal. Just after lift-off, the pilot said the engine did not seem to be producing full power, and the airplane would not climb above about 300 feet. He decided to return to the airport, and when the pilot pulled the throttle control to idle, the engine power did not change. It continued to run at less than full throttle, but he could not make any power changes, up or down. The pilot said he descended to the runway, but since he could not reduce power, continued to fly down the length of the runway until reaching the end. He said he was flying at low level, and did not remember to shut-off the engine with the mixture or magnetos. Upon reaching the end of the runway, he banked the airplane to the left along a taxiway. The taxiway abruptly ended at a six feet high fence. The airplane collided with the fence, and then struck numerous trees beyond the fence. The airplane received damage to the engine, wings, and fuselage. The mechanic, and another mechanic employee observed the airplane climb to about 500 feet and then return for landing. During the landing, the airplane touched down on the runway for about 5 to 7 seconds on the main landing gear tires. The touchdown point appeared to be about mid-length of the runway. The airplane then lifted off to about 40 feet until reaching the end of the runway. It banked hard to the left, bounced the main wheels on the taxiway, and disappeared from view. After the accident, the mechanic recovered the airplane. During a postaccident examination of the engine, the nut that clamps the throttle linkage to the carburetor throttle arm, was found to be loose.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 703 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 570 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2000; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: PAED Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 4,010 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from PAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4955A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.