Cessna 180 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, May 30, 2005
On May 30, 2005, a Cessna 180, registered N4533B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merill Field). 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 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2005
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merill Field · 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
- N4533B · registry record · serial 31432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,842 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 16,339 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAMR
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.
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.