Cessna 180A accident near Northway, Alaska, July 27, 1988
On July 27, 1988 at about 7:19 pm local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N5327D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska (Northway 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 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
- July 27, 1988 · about 7:19 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · Northway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N5327D · registry record · serial 50225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIALLY CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS LANDING AT NORTHWAY, AK., WHEN THE AIRPLANE GROUND-LOOPED TO THE LEFT. HE REPORTEDLY HAD ALSO GROUND-LOOPED THE SAME AIRPLANE WHEN HE LANDED AT WHITEHORSE, CANADA, JUST PRIOR TO THE LANDING AT NORTHWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT RUDDER RETURN SPRING WAS NOT CONNECTED, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER TO THE LEFT UPON TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND WAS ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT TO ALASKA. HIS TOTAL TAIL-WHEEL EXPERIENCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 35 HOURS.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,796 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1987; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H-1C Whitehorse
- Destination: ORT Northway AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:59 pm from ORT
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.
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.