Cessna 180 accident near Chugiak, AK
On May 27, 2011, a Cessna 180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chugiak, AK. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 27, 2011
- Place
- Chugiak, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.415°N, 149.507°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110528X21434
Official records · ANC11FA037
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 27, 2011, about 1014 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180, N4955A, collided with terrain after a loss of control during the initial climb after takeoff from the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane received substantial damage as a result of the impact and a postcrash fire. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The certificated private pilot and the four passengers were killed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Seldovia, Alaska. Several witnesses stated that they saw the accident airplane takeoff from runway 19R in a very nose high attitude. One witness stated that the airplane went off of the left side of the runway before becoming airborne, headed toward a row of trees on the east side of the airport. The airplane climbed over the trees, turned to the south, then rolled right and descended into the ground. The witnesses said that the engine sounded like it was running at full power. During a telephone interview, a personal acquaintance of the accident pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), that the family was building a cabin in Seldovia, and he thought that this was the first trip of the year for the pilot. Another acquaintance stated that he had flown the accident airplane with the accident pilot in May 2010. During that flight he said the accident pilot almost stalled the airplane on takeoff, a
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model, his lack of currency in FAA required takeoffs and landings, and his excessive loading of the airplane.
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Browse: Alaska · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
