Cessna 180E accident near Cordova, Alaska, November 5, 2006
On November 5, 2006 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Cessna 180E, registered N4141J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cordova, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during cruise flight, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with an embankment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2006 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Cordova, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180E · all 180Es on the register
- Registration
- N4141J · no longer on the register · serial 18051126
- 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 departed on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross-country personal flight. The pilot filed an FAA VFR flight plan and reported that he had 2.0 to 2.5 hours of fuel aboard for the approximately 161 statute mile flight. About 1.2 hours after departure, the pilot declared an emergency by stating, "Engine out. Emergency landing. Mayday Mayday." He performed an emergency landing on a remote island, in a meadow that was surrounded by trees. Examination of the engine, 6 months after the airplane was retrieved from the accident site, revealed no observed preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,159 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2006; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Contnental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAWS Wasilla AK at 3:52 pm
- Destination: PACV Cordova AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PACV, 12 miles away
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.