Cessna 180H N91393

Summary

On 17 July 2025 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 180H registered N91393, operated by Copper Calley Air Service, was involved in an accident near Gulkana, 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

17 July 2025 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulkana, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Sanford River strip

Coordinates

62.4900, -145.4800

Aircraft

Cessna 180H

Registration

N91393

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Copper Calley Air Service

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glennallen → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA076

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the left rudder assembly which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown he heard a “pop” or “snap,” at which point his left foot and the left rudder pedal moved fully forward to the firewall. Left rudder control was lost, and the airplane continued down the runway as the tail swung left. Unable to regain directional control, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, ground looped, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination determined that the rudder bar assembly weld had failed at the attachment to the rudder pedal. The operator stated that the airplane is normally operated on wheel/skis, which require increased rudder pedal forces during ground operations. The operator also noted evidence of preexisting cracking along the weld that was not identified during the most recent maintenance inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.