Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Wednesday, October 10, 1990 10:12 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO SECURE THE CABIN DOOR. AFTER LANDING, THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED DURING A HIGH SPEED RIGHT TURN OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE RIGHT PILOT'S LEFT BRAKE PEDAL WAS 'SPONGY', WHILE THE OTHER BRAKES SEEMED NORMAL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AIR WAS BLED FROM THE LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER. ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE FLOATS HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND WHEELS REINSTALLED. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST LANDING WITH THE AIRPLANE USING THE RIGHT SET OF BRAKES AFTER REINSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1012
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99501
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MERRILL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 136
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1019 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 136
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 10 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1027
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42870
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3330D
NTSB Number ANC91LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 32128
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRISTOL BAY LODGE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 1509
Operator City DILLINGHAM
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99576
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LHD
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORT
Destination City NORTHWAY
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --