Birchwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chugiak, Alaska 99567
Friday, March 12, 2004 12:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot reported that he was landing on runway 1L, which required a correction for a 7 knot left crosswind. The pilot stated that after touchdown, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to veer to the right, and off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels subsequently struck a snow bank, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and an on ground collision with a snow bank. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Chugiak
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99567
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 612400N
Event Location Longitude 1493044W
Event Location Airport Birchwood
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BCV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16640
NTSB Notification Source Anchorage FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1237
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2004 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7937V
NTSB Number ANC04LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18051873
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Charles M. Sage
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11200 Doggie Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99516
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code Z41
Departure City Anchorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BCV
Destination City Chugiak
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2004 2:18PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1L
Runway Length 4010
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --