Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99513
Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local public use flight to demonstrate navigation technology to FAA personnel. According to the pilot, during the landing roll a gust of wind lifted the left wing, the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a ground-loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone --
Event City Anchorage
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99513
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 611249N
Event Location Longitude 1495040W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 137
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 930 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26031
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2009 6:57PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4UA
NTSB Number ANC09TA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32851
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 8 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2440
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2811 MERRILL FLD DR
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99501
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2811 MERRILL FLD DR
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99501
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MRI
Departure City Anchorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City Anchorage
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2009 6:57PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --