Cessna 180H accident near Nenana, Alaska, September 13, 2014
On September 13, 2014 at about 6:45 am local time, a 1965 Cessna 180H, registered N2419F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nenana, Alaska (Nenana 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, while landing during dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2014 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Nenana, Alaska · Nenana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H H, built 1965 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2419F · registry record · serial 18051619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was landing a float-equipped airplane, during dark night conditions, in a 100 foot wide water lane that was adjacent to a lighted runway. The pilot said that as he approached his destination, he activated the lights on the adjacent runway to gain reference of the water's surface. On touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. He recovered from the bounce, and added engine power to cushion the landing, but the airplane veered to the left, and the floats collided with the shoreline. The airplane continued onshore and it subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,760 hours in all; 1,129 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,590 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,489 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2014; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 2,489 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nowitna River AK
- Destination: PANN Nenana AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4W, 3,601 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from PANN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.