Cessna 180 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, April 21, 2008
On April 21, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3043E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kodiak, Alaska (Kodiak airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control during the landing roll due to a failure or malfunction of the brake system, resulting in a loss of control, and structural damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · Kodiak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3043E · no longer on the register · serial 30898
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane at the conclusion of a cross-country business flight. As the tailwheel touched down, it began to wobble, and the pilot applied the brakes. The left brake was ineffective, and the airplane ground looped to the right. As a consequence, the left main landing gear axle and wheel separated from the landing gear strut, and the airplane received structural damage. The pilot indicated that he previously had a malfunction of the left brake, which was remedied by the addition of brake fluid, but he did not find any leak at that time. The airplane was not inspected by NTSB or FAA personnel.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kasilof AK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: PADQ Kodiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 7,542 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 2:42 pm from PADQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N3043E 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.