Cessna C-180J accident near Seldovia, Alaska, May 8, 1992
On May 8, 1992 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna C-180J, registered N7751K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seldovia, Alaska (Seldovia airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER IN-FLT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT TO LAND ON A SHORT GRAVEL AIRSTRIP IN TAILWIND WX CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO CORRECT A GND LOOP/SWERVE DURING LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY, TAILWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1992 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Seldovia, Alaska · Seldovia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-180J
- Registration
- N7751K · registry record · serial 18052719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON A 2100 FT LONG GRAVEL STRIP IN GUSTY, TAILWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE STRIP DURING LANDING ROLL AND IMPACTED TREES.
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: 290 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,334 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 3:57 pm
- Destination: SOV Seldovia AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:57 pm from HOM, 15 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N7751K 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.