Cessna 180 N9712G

Summary

On 5 August 2020 at about 21:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N9712G, operated by Minta Inc, was involved in an accident near Kenai, Alaska, United States. 4 people were 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

5 August 2020 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kenai, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Kenai Muni (ENA)

Coordinates

60.5797, -151.2442

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N9712G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Minta Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pilot Point → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC20LA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper decision to place a passenger and baggage in the rear baggage compartment, which resulted in an aft center of gravity, an increase in directional instability, and affected the pilot’s ability to maintain directional control, resulting in a ground loop during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane immediately veered right as the tailwheel contacted the runway. The pilot applied full left rudder to no avail, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the right brake may have dragged and that the tailwheel may have tilted over during the touchdown. Postaccident examination of the runway marks, brakes, and tailwheel revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The wind was reported as 30° right of runway heading at 4 knots. According to first responders, three passengers were sitting in the airplane’s front two rows, and one passenger and multiple bags were in the rear baggage compartment, which was not equipped with a seat. This likely resulted in the airplane having an aft center of gravity and increased the airplane’s tendency to weathervane into the wind and the airplane’s directional instability.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.