Cessna 180 accident near Cooper Landing, Alaska, September 11, 1993
On September 11, 1993 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N7541K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cooper Landing, Alaska (Quartz Creek airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEPARATION OF THE THROTTLE ARM FROM THE THORTTLE SHAFT, THE FAILURE OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, AND THE COMPANY MANAGEMENT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1993 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cooper Landing, Alaska · Quartz Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N7541K · no longer on the register · serial 18052666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REDUCED POWER BY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THE ENGINE RESPONDED AND CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT APPLIED THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 03 BUT WAS UNABLE TO REDUCE POWER AND OVER SHOT THE RUNWAY. HE WAS TURNING TO REVERSE COURSE AND LAND ON RUNWAY 21. DURING THE TURN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE MORE POWER AND AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND CRASHED INTO TREES. EXAMINATION OF AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT THE THROTTLE ARM WAS NOT SAFETIED TO THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE STOP IAW THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARBURETOR.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,364 hours in all; 570 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 7,296 as pilot in command; 497 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,253 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1993; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JLA Quartz Creek AK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.