Cessna 180 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, September 29, 2014
On September 29, 2014 at about 9:18 pm local time, a 1954 Cessna 180, registered N2483C, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Kodiak, Alaska (Kodiak airport). It was a personal 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
The pilots failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2014 · about 9:18 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 UNDESIGNAT, built 1954 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2483C · no longer on the register · serial 30783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was back taxiing on the runway for departure in a tundra tire tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated he had made one takeoff from the airport earlier that day, he had checked the weather before this departure and noticed that the wind had increased slightly. There were other aircraft using the same runway and he felt confident that he could handle the wind. While back taxiing he noticed that he was using heavy braking when a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. He stated that the brakes were too hot to hold the aircraft straight, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing, aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.The pilot stated in the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, that the large 29 inch tundra tires caused the brakes to heat up much faster than the 850 tires that he was used to. He recommended limiting downwind taxiing to short distances, and in no more than 12 knots of wind while operating with large tires.
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 defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,391 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 66.6 in the last 30 days; 24,251 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 2014; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 838 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADQ Kodiak AK
- Destination: ADQ Kodiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 7,550 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PADQ, 1 miles away
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.
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.