Cessna 180 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 8, 1993
On August 8, 1993 at about 6:15 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3654C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT RAISING OF THE FLAPS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1993 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3654C · registry record · serial 31152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SELECTED THE 40 DEGREE FLAP POSITION FOR HIS APPROACH AND LANDING. THE AIRPLANE 'FELL OUT OF THE SKY' ON SHORT FINAL. AFTER EXITING THE AIRPLANE HE NOTICED THE FLAP HANDLE WAS IN THE 30 DEGREE POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND FLAP SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE HANDLE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE 40 DEGREE SELECTED POSITION IF BUMPED. THE FLAP HANDLE WAS VERY STIFF WHEN POSITIONED FROM THE 30 DEGREE TO THE 40 DEGREE POSITION AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY LATCH ON THE 40 DEGREE POSITION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1993; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N3654C 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.