Cessna 180G accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, August 19, 2025
On August 19, 2025 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 180G, registered N4721U, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Delta Junction, Alaska (East Hayes Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with tree-covered terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2025 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · East Hayes Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180G, built 1964 · all 180Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4721U · registry record · serial 18051421
- 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, shortly after takeoff from a remote, wet, gravel-covered, rough and uneven airstrip that was surrounded by trees, the airplane began to unexpectedly descend just after becoming airborne. He attempted to recover by applying aft elevator input; however, the airplane settled into an area of tree and vegetation-covered terrain at the departure end of the airstrip. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,068 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,857 as pilot in command; 445 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 10, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,928.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2025; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 2,928 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 78AA North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from ABI, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PABI 191253Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC070 11/11 A2988 RMK AO2 RAB16E42 SLP121 P0001 T01110106 TSNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of horizonal stabilizer, wings, and fuselage
Photograph 2 – Aerial view of accident airplane
Photograph 3 – Image of accident airplane at accident siteThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 9, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 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 N4721U 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.