Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180 near Sleetmute, AK — 2016-02-14

Final reportANC16CA014
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Date
2016-02-14
Location
Sleetmute, AK, USA
Airport
SLQ
Aircraft
CESSNA 180
Registration
N2253C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight to a remote, off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot said that before landing he intended to fly a low pass over the snow-covered site to determine the condition of the snowpack, a maneuver commonly known as dragging the landing site. He said that as the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the frozen layer of crusty snow, the wheels broke through, and the airplane subsequently nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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