Cessna 180A accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 6, 1993
On June 6, 1993 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N5252D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING. THE TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1993 · about 7:38 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 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N5252D · registry record · serial 50150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, A GUST OF WIND SWUNG THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SKID TO THE RIGHT AND GROUND LOOP. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. NO DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE LANDING GEAR WHEEL/BRAKE ASSEMBLY.
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: 1,223 hours in all; 621 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1992; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Port Alsworth AK at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from MRI, 1 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 N5252D 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.