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ANC16CA040

2016-07-03 · Nome, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 94Z

Current FAA registration · N9203T

Make / Model
CESSNA 180C
Engine
LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19600120
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACC0FD

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway and impacting a barricade. Contributing to the accident was the airport manager's improper placement and marking of a metal barricade that encroached on the runway safety area.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that while landing on a gravel surfaced runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a downdraft was encountered, which forced the airplane to the ground prematurely. The airplane subsequently impacted an estimated 38-inch-high metal barricade that was located about 90 feet from the runway threshold resulting in substantial damage to the right wing lift strut The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport manager stated that the metal barricade sections were erected each summer season to prevent All-Terrain Vehicles from using the runway, thus mitigating runway incursions. The pilot stated that while landing on a gravel surfaced runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a downdraft was encountered, which forced the airplane to the ground prematurely. The airplane subsequently impacted an estimated 38-inch-high metal barricade that was located about 90 feet from the runway threshold resulting in substantial damage to the right wing lift strut The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.  The airport manager stated that the metal barricade sections were erected each summer season to prevent All-Terrain Vehicles from using the runway, thus mitigating runway incursions.  Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wall/barricade-Effect on operation - C
  • F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Airport personnel - F
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wall/barricade-Awareness of condition

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_ANC16CA040.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (runway incursion). All research papers