Cessna 180H accident near Soldotna, Alaska, June 1, 2024
On June 1, 2024 at about 1:05 am local time, a 1969 Cessna 180H, registered N91224, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Soldotna, Alaska (Holiday Park Residential 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 pilot’s failure to recognize and avoid an obstacle on the runway environment during takeoff roll. Contributing was flat light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2024 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Holiday Park Residential · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H, built 1969 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N91224 · registry record · serial 18052010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while on takeoff roll from a gravel airstrip, the airplane’s left main wheel struck a pile of gravel, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot added that flat light conditions, coupled with the gray silt ladened gravel, contributed to him not seeing the obstacle on the airstrip.
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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2023; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Contential XP470-50 (piston); 149 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ALH Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway Nort, 2,100 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.66 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PASX, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PASX 010056Z AUTO 08009G15KT 10SM CLR 15/00 A2966 RMK AO2 SLP048 T01500000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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 N91224 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.