Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180 near Glennallen, AK — 2015-02-09

Final reportANC15LA011
Sign in to save
Date
2015-02-09
Location
Glennallen, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 180
Registration
N9280C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

An in-flight fire and a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was taking photographs over a remote area. About 20 minutes into the flight, he noticed the smell of smoke in the cockpit and immediately began a return to the airport. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to lose power, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He performed a forced landing in an area of heavily wooded terrain. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot stated that there was a small fire in the engine cowling that he was able to extinguish by packing snow into the cowling. Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident, and the reason for the fire and loss of engine power could not be determined. .

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have returned to the airport sooner after smelling smoke.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps