Cessna 180B accident near Skwentna, Alaska, August 30, 2015
On August 30, 2015 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 180B, registered N59180, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Skwentna, Alaska (Chelatna Lake Strip airport). It was a positioning 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 excessive use of brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2015 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Chelatna Lake Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B B, built 1980 · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59180 · registry record · serial 50582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while landing his tundra tire-equipped, tailwheel airplane at a remote airstrip, he encountered light windshear on short final. The airplane subsequently touched down harder than expected and bounced. In an effort to recover from the bounce, the pilot applied forward elevator control. After the main wheels were firmly on the ground, he applied aft elevator control and brake pressure, which resulted in the airplane nosing over and sustaining substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, wings and right lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies or malfunctions 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 899 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 899 as pilot in command; 499 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,640.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O 470R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Above Alaska Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PATK Talkeetna AK
- Destination: PVT Skwentna AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 1,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.36 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PATK, 42 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N59180 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.