Cessna 180 N3043E

Summary

On 23 August 2015 at about 04:20 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N3043E was involved in an accident near Kasilof, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 August 2015 at 04:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Kasilof, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Kasilof (5KS)

Coordinates

60.3056, -151.3792

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N3043E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kasilof → Kasilof

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC15FA066

2 people died.

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on postaccident examination and testing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness stated that he saw the accident airplane operating at a low level over the beach. When the airplane was directly in front of him, it pitched up to about 45 degrees and climbed to about 100 ft above the trees located on the bluff overlooking the water. After lowering the nose to a level pitch attitude, he heard a reduction in engine power followed by a sound consistent with an engine misfiring. The airplane disappeared from view, and the engine noise ceased. Immediately after, a loud sound consistent with an impact was heard and a postimpact fire consumed the wreckage. Based on the witness statement, in combination with the absence of power signatures on the propeller in the wreckage, it is likely the engine was not producing rated power at the time of the accident. A NTSB postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An engine test run was conducted following the replacement of impact- and thermal-damaged components. The engine experienced a normal start and accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power, and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.