Cessna 180 accident near North Pole, Alaska, March 27, 2014
On March 27, 2014 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1955 Cessna 180, registered N3125D, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near North Pole, Alaska (Dalrymple'S 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing on a snow covered runway, which resulted in a collision with a terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2014 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Dalrymple'S Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 UNDESIGNAT, built 1955 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3125D · registry record · serial 31923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot was taxiing a ski-equipped airplane back-and-forth on a hard-packed, snow-covered runway, to warm up the engine oil, and polish any frost that might have accumulated on the bottom of the skis. During the last taxi pass the airplane began to drift to the left. He applied full right rudder, and a short burst of full engine power in attempt to correct for the drift, but the airplane continued to the left, striking trees along the edge of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (into takeoff position)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72.1 hours in all; 23.3 in this make and model; 4.6 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days; 39.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,098 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,098 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 31AK North Pole AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 85 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 22, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N3125D 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.