NTSB ANC24LA040 — 2024-05-31 · Soldotna, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N91224

Make / Model: CESSNA 180H
Year of manufacture: 1969 · 55 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19690131
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S ACA0D4

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N91224 Cessna 180H None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to recognize and avoid an obstacle on the runway environment during takeoff roll. Contributing was flat light conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, while on takeoff roll from a gravel airstrip, the airplane’s left main wheel struck a pile of gravel, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot added that flat light conditions, coupled with the gray silt ladened gravel, contributed to him not seeing the obstacle on the airstrip. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Debris/dirt/foreign object-Contributed to outcome
— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Flat light-Contributed to outcome
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ANC24LA040.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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