Cessna 180 accident near Tok, Alaska, October 1, 2020
On October 1, 2020 at about 3:40 am local time, a 1964 Cessna 180, registered N926LL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tok, Alaska (Tok Junction 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 mechanic’s failure to properly repair the tailwheel, which resulted in a malfunction of the tailwheel and a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2020 · about 3:40 am local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Tok, Alaska · Tok Junction Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 H, built 1964 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N926LL · no longer on the register · serial 18051470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after landing, as the airplane decelerated and rudder effectiveness diminished, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. Left rudder was applied but was unsuccessful in controlling the airplane. The airplane exited the runway and the left main gear separated from the gear box resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination revealed excessive wear, damage, and a missing component inconsistent with proper tailwheel maintenance occurring the day before the accident.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the landing gear
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,765 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,398 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,471.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 61 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAUO Willow AK at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,509 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PAOR, 34 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAOR 010253Z AUTO 33003KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A2967 RMK AO2 SLP067 T00611006 55002 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 2 – Tailwheel steering arm’s scored and damaged inside radius.
Photo 3 – Tailwheel steering arm’s scored and damaged inside radius.
Photo 4 - Compression spring in its respective attach point. Note, no spacer present.
Photo 5 - Compression spring's sharp and damaged spring end.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 26, 2022. 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 | Tailwheel Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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 N926LL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N926LL: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 180 Skywagon 2,604 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-R 107 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tok Junction Airport · nearest airport
- Willow Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N926LL 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC20LA100.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.