Cessna 180 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, October 10, 1990
On October 10, 1990 at about 6:12 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3330D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a business 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1990 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3330D · registry record · serial 32128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO SECURE THE CABIN DOOR. AFTER LANDING, THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED DURING A HIGH SPEED RIGHT TURN OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE RIGHT PILOT'S LEFT BRAKE PEDAL WAS 'SPONGY', WHILE THE OTHER BRAKES SEEMED NORMAL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AIR WAS BLED FROM THE LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER. ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE FLOATS HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND WHEELS REINSTALLED. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST LANDING WITH THE AIRPLANE USING THE RIGHT SET OF BRAKES AFTER REINSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 6,300 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 12:45 pm
- Destination: ORT Northway AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:19 pm from MRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.