GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA072
Data Source NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
NTSB Report Nbr ANC00LA072
Event Id 20001212X21144
Local Date 06/20/2000
Local Time 1730
State AK
Airport Name MILLER CREEK
Event Type ACCIDENT
Injury Severity NONE
Record Status FINAL
Mid Air Collision NO
Event Location ON AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete UNKNOWN
Basic Weather Conditions VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND
Light Condition DAY
Cloud Condition SCATTERED
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) 4000
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) 0
Cloud Type NONE
Visibility RVR (ft) 0
Visibility RVV (sm) 0
Visibility (sm) 30
Wind Direction (deg) 230
Wind Condition Flag U
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Condition Indicated Unknown

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION
Registration Number N3229D
Aircraft Make CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series UNDESIGNATED SERIES
Aircraft Damage SUBSTANTIAL
Aircraft Fire NONE
Aircraft Explosion NONE
Aircraft Type AIRPLANE
Aircraft Homebuilt UNKNOWN
Phase of Flight LANDING
Aircraft Use PERSONAL
Flight Plan Filed VFR
Operator Name JAY S. HAMMOND
Operator Doing Business As
Owner Name LAKE CLARK LODGE, INC.
Number of Seats 4
Number of Engines 1
ELT Installed YES
ELT Operated YES
Departure Airport Id MRI
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State ALASKA
Last Departure Point NO
Destination Local CRASH AT DESTINATION CITY
Destination Airport Id
Destination City
Runway Id 23
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 100
Air Carrier Operating Certificates NO
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates UNKNOWN
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate UNKNOWN
Cert Max Gross Wgt 2550

ENGINE INFORMATION

Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer Continental
Engine Model O-470J
Engine Horsepower 225
Engine Thrust HP
Carb/Injection CARBURETOR

INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 0 0 0 0
Pass 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 1
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1
AIRFRAME/COMPONENT/SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION
Phase of Operation: LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # Event Group Code Subject Modifier Personnel Cause/Factor
1 1 LANDING GEAR, MAIN GEAR STRUT FAILURE, TOTAL CAUSE
2 1 LANDING GEAR, MAIN GEAR STRUT FATIGUE CAUSE

Occurrence #2
NOSE OVER
Phase of Operation: LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # Event Group Code Subject Modifier Personnel Cause/Factor




AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT


On June 20, 2000, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N3229D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at the pilot's private airstrip at Miller Creek, 10 miles northeast of Port Alsworth, Alaska, at 60 degrees, 20 minutes north latitude, 154 degrees, 15 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1600, for the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during a telephone interview on June 20, that he was landing to the west on his 1,200 feet long by 100 feet wide airstrip. He indicated that he was aware of a dirt berm on the approach end of his airstrip, and he does not believe the airplane's wheels contacted the berm. He stated that as soon as the airplane touched down, the left landing gear leg dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. He described a tire-sized scuff mark leading up to the wreckage on the right side, and a gouge in the dirt leading up to the wreckage on the left side. The left landing gear strut was missing the lower four inches, fracturing at the main landing gear axle attachment bolt holes. The left wheel assembly was located 200 feet from the wreckage. The pilot indicated the airplane had wheel-ski assemblies installed until one month prior to the accident. The lower section of the fractured landing gear leg was inspected at the NTSB materials laboratory on August 16, 2000. The four corners of the fractured bolt holes showed fatigue cracks starting from corrosion pits. Large amounts of corrosion pitting and oxidation were noted on the surface of the gear leg adjacent to the origin of the cracks.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT


The pilot was landing on his 1,200 feet long by 100 feet wide gravel airstrip. He stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that as soon as the airplane touched down, the left landing gear leg dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The left landing gear strut was missing the lower four inches, fracturing at the main landing gear axle attachment bolt holes. The left wheel assembly was located 200 feet from the wreckage. The pilot indicated the airplane had wheel-ski assemblies installed until one month prior to the accident. The lower section of the fractured landing gear leg was inspected at the NTSB materials laboratory on August 16, 2000. The four corners of the fractured bolt holes showed fatigue cracks starting from corrosion pits. Large amounts of corrosion pitting and oxidation were noted on the surface of the gear leg adjacent to the origin of the cracks.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT


The fatigue failure of the left main landing gear leg at the main landing gear axle attachment bolt holes.


END REPORT