Cessna 180 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 17, 1984
On September 17, 1984 at about 3:10 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9339C, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1984 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N9339C · no longer on the register · serial 45498
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED A TTL LOSS OF POWER AFTER BEING CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 33 AT MERRILL FIELD. THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES, A MOVING VEHICLE ON 15TH AVE AND AN 8 FT HIGH ARPT FENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. CALCULATIONS INDICATE APRX 11 GALLONS OF FUEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMAINING AT THE TIME OF 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 690 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 540 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1983; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5MK Mt Mckinley AK at 9:15 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:11 pm from MRI, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.