Cessna 180 accident near Buckland, Alaska, July 29, 2009
On July 29, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N540RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Buckland, Alaska (Candle 2 airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the right brake cylinder, which allowed a portion of the cylinder to disengage and jam the right rudder/brake pedal, resulting in a loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate inspection of the brake system by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buckland, Alaska · Candle 2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 H · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N540RT · registry record · serial 52-118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight with three passengers when the accident occurred. The pilot said during the landing roll he noticed that the right main landing gear brake did not work. He said he tried to land straight ahead, but the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway, and then ground-looped to the left. He reported that the right wing, aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were damaged during the ground-loop. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot said an examination of the right brake revealed that the set-screw holding the right brake cylinder cap in place had not been properly installed, and allowed the cap to come off the cylinder, and jam the right rudder/brake pedal.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) 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
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,800 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 28,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAOM Nome AK at 9:00 pm
- Destination: AK75 Buckland AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 02, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.