Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180H near Wasilla, AK — 2014-06-07

Final reportANC14LA039
Sign in to save
Date
2014-06-07
Location
Wasilla, AK, USA
Airport
PAWS
Aircraft
CESSNA 180H
Registration
N91399
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and an attempted go-around, which resulted in collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the airplane had recently undergone maintenance to realign the main landing gear. During the third landing, the airplane turned sharply to the left upon touchdown. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the airplane continued to veer off the runway surface, exited the runway safety area, and impacted the upslope of a drainage ditch. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the gearbox, left wing, ailerons, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. A postaccident examination revealed that the main landing gear shim bolts were in place, but the main landing gear attachment bolt had broken. The attachment bolt's fracture surfaces and surrounding area revealed fracture features and deformation patterns consistent with a ductile overstress fracture, which likely occurred during the accident sequence. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing earlier due to landing gear issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps