Cessna 180G N4721U

Summary

On 19 August 2025 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 180G registered N4721U was involved in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, United States. 2 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

19 August 2025 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

East Hayes Creek (NONE)

Coordinates

63.8051, -146.4754

Aircraft

Cessna 180G

Registration

N4721U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → North Pole

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ANC25LA088

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with tree-covered terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff from a remote, wet, gravel-covered, rough and uneven airstrip that was surrounded by trees, the airplane began to unexpectedly descend just after becoming airborne. He attempted to recover by applying aft elevator input; however, the airplane settled into an area of tree and vegetation-covered terrain at the departure end of the airstrip. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.