Cessna 180-A accident near Skwentna, Alaska, March 25, 1989
On March 25, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180-A, registered N9685B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING/TAKEOFF SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180-A · all 180-As on the register
- Registration
- N9685B · registry record · serial 32982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE IN DEEP WET SNOW. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK INTO THE SNOW. HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF AND RETURN FOR ANOTHER LANDING IN THE TRACKS HE HAD JUST MADE. A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO REACHING LIFT-OFF SPEED, THE RIGHT MAIN SKI HIT A COMPACTED SNOW MACHINE TRACK, CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE ULTIMATELY NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT BELIEVES THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD HE REDUCED POWER AND TURNED AROUND IN HIS LANDING TRACKS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING THE TAKEOFF.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,108 hours in all; 507 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,045 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1988; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Hewett Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC89LA054.