Cessna 182 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 27, 2018
On September 27, 2018 at about 3:07 am local time, a 1959 Cessna 182, registered N2571G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence from a crossing heavy airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2018 · about 3:07 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182, built 1959 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2571G · registry record · serial 51871
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the accident airplane was inbound for landing, the pilot received traffic and wake turbulence advisories from air traffic control for a crossing heavy Boeing C-17 on approach. The pilot acknowledged that he had the C-17 in sight and elected to execute a 360° turn. After completing the turn, he descended the airplane below the altitude of the C-17, ultimately crossing 3.66 miles behind and about 500 ft below the C-17's flightpath. Shortly after passing behind the C-17, the pilot reported entering an area of "severe turbulence," which he described as "one violent instantaneous motion." The airplane continued for a landing. The pilot reported that, during a postflight inspection of the airplane, he discovered that both wings and the horizontal stabilizer exhibited signs of buckling. Further, the left wing had shifted aft, which reduced the gap between the trailing edge of the flap and the fuselage by 3/8 of an inch. A crack in the left wing spar was discovered during a subsequent, detailed postaccident examination. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicates that pilots should fly at or above the preceding aircraft's flightpath, altering course as necessary, to avoid the area behind and below the generating aircraft.
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
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,028.5 hours in all; 280.2 in this make and model; 40.7 in the last 90 days; 18.1 in the last 30 days; 2,028.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 SERIES (piston); 41,678 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Big Lake AK
- Destination: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC18LA072.