Cessna 180J and Unknown unknown mid-air collision near Chickaloon, Alaska, October 13, 2021
On October 13, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 180J (N9966N) and Unknown unknown (UNKNOWN), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chickaloon, Alaska. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A mid-air collision for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
A mid-air collision for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 180J, built 1975 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N9966N · registry record · serial 18052621
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Unknown unknown
- Registration
- UNKNOWN · no longer on the register · serial unk
- Damage
- Damage not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 180J final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in level cruise flight over an area of remote and unpopulated terrain, at an altitude of about 1,500 ft mean sea level, he noticed a dark flash in the upper left corner of the windscreen. He immediately pitched the nose of the airplane down and to the right to avoid another airplane. With his airplane operating normally and unaware that the two airplanes had contacted each other, he continued to his destination airport. During a postflight inspection, he noticed black marks and metal damage on the upper surface of the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the left wing and what appeared to be a black tire mark. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The other aircraft involved has not been identified.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Unknown unknown final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in level cruise flight over an area of remote and unpopulated terrain, at an altitude of about 1,500 ft mean sea level, he noticed a dark flash in the upper left corner of the windscreen. He immediately pitched the nose of the airplane down and to the right to avoid another airplane. With his airplane operating normally and unaware that the two airplanes had contacted each other, he continued to his destination airport. During a postflight inspection, he noticed black marks and metal damage on the upper surface of the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the left wing and what appeared to be a black tire mark. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The other aircraft involved has not been identified.
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 for the Cessna 180J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 17,725 as pilot in command; 212 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 19, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 925.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 Series (piston); 948 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGQ Big Lake AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: PAQ Palmer AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.24 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PAAQ, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 132053Z 35005KT 10SM OVC065 03/M05 A2924 RMK AO2 SLP905 T00331050 50000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Unknown unknown from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
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 ANC22LA002.