Cessna 180 N4955A

Summary

On 14 December 2000 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4955A was involved in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 December 2000 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chugiak, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Birchwood (PABV)

Coordinates

61.4094, -149.1702

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4955A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA023

Nobody was injured.

The failure of a mechanic to ensure the throttle linkage was secure. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to take remedial action during an emergency landing and overrun.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot had just gotten the airplane from a maintenance facility after the engine had been disassembled. The engine was reinstalled by a mechanic who made several engine runs to check for leaks and proper rigging of the engine controls. The pilot said an engine run-up to 1,700 rpm before takeoff was normal. Just after lift-off, the pilot said the engine did not seem to be producing full power, and the airplane would not climb above about 300 feet. He decided to return to the airport, and when the pilot pulled the throttle control to idle, the engine power did not change. It continued to run at less than full throttle, but he could not make any power changes, up or down. The pilot said he descended to the runway, but since he could not reduce power, continued to fly down the length of the runway until reaching the end. He said he was flying at low level, and did not remember to shut-off the engine with the mixture or magnetos. Upon reaching the end of the runway, he banked the airplane to the left along a taxiway. The taxiway abruptly ended at a six feet high fence. The airplane collided with the fence, and then struck numerous trees beyond the fence. The airplane received damage to the engine, wings, and fuselage. The mechanic, and another mechanic employee observed the airplane climb to about 500 feet and then return for landing. During the landing, the airplane touched down on the runway for about 5 to 7 seconds on the main landing gear tires. The touchdown point appeared to be about mid-length of the runway. The airplane then lifted off to about 40 feet until reaching the end of the runway. It banked hard to the left, bounced the main wheels on the taxiway, and disappeared from view. After the accident, the mechanic recovered the airplane. During a postaccident examination of the engine, the nut that clamps the throttle linkage to the carburetor throttle arm, was found to be loose.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.