Cessna 180 accident near Willow, Alaska, September 1, 2025
On September 1, 2025 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1954 Cessna 180, registered N2996C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Willow, Alaska (Pvt 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 decision to takeoff from an unsuitable runway due to large puddles of water, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2025 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180, built 1954 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2996C · registry record · serial 30896
- 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 flooding had recently occurred at his location and standing water remained in some places on the runway. He taxied up and down the runway and determined it was safe to depart. During the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced resistance when it contacted the first puddle of water, which forced the nose of the airplane down, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470A (piston); 3,500 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,100 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from PAWS, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 011856Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM OVC070 16/09 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP223 T01560089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front view of the accident airplane and condition of the runway
Photograph 2 – Side view of the accident airplane
Photograph 3 – Aft view of the accident airplane
Photograph 4 – Damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudderThe 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 May 22, 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 | Investigative Photographs | 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.
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.