Cessna 180 accident near Naknek, Alaska, May 29, 1987
On May 29, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2940C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naknek, Alaska (South Naknek No. 2 airport). It was a business 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 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
- May 29, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Naknek, Alaska · South Naknek No. 2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2940C · no longer on the register · serial 30840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ABANDONED ARPT ON AN UNMAINTAINED DIRT TAXIWAY ADJOINING THE GRAVEL RWY INORDER TO REDUCE THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT. THE ACFT HIT A SOFT SPOT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND NOSED OVER. THE U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE'S ALASKA AVIATION SUPPLEMENT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING NOTATION REGARDING THE RWY: 'RWY CONDITION NOT MONITERED, RECOMMEND VISUAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO USING; 1100 FOOT EXTENSION IS ROAD AND TAXIWAY JOINING TWO RUNWAYS NOT CLASSIFIED AS PART OF RUNWAYS.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 101 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1987; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKN King Salmon AK at 1:20 pm
- Destination: WSN Naknek AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2940C 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.