NTSB Factual Report

On August 8, 2005, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a nose wheel-equipped Cessna 182 airplane, N6480A, sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing attempt at an off airport site, located about 10 miles southeast of Nabesna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Of the three people aboard, the private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1220. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 9, the pilot reported that he was landing at a gravel-covered off airport site that was surrounded by brush. He said that he inadvertently allowed the airplane to touchdown to the right of the site, and he applied full engine power to abort the landing. The pilot said that as the airplane began to climb, it abruptly pitched down, and the nose wheel struck the ground. The nose wheel subsequently collapsed, and the airplane nosed over on the gravel-covered site. The pilot noted that a postaccident inspection revealed a tree branch lodged in the accident airplane's right elevator assembly. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing, which resulted in an on ground encounter with brush, and subsequent loss of control during an aborted landing. Factors associated with the accident were high vegetation, and a jammed elevator control.