N81958

On August 7, 2001, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180A airplane, N81958, sustained substantial damage during a go-around at a remote river gravel bar, about 35 miles north of Arctic Village, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1300.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 8th, the pilot reported he intended to fly to the Hulahula River, but the intended route of flight was obscured by clouds over nearby mountain tops. The pilot said he decided to land toward the north on a gravel bar along the river. The landing area was about 800 feet long, and 100 feet wide. The pilot said he made three low passes over the gravel bar, and then began the landing approach. He said he applied engine carburetor heat when he was abeam the landing threshold. As the airplane descended toward the ground, the pilot noticed the gravel bar contained larger rocks than he liked. He began a go-around about 30 feet above the ground by applying full engine power. The pilot said the engine sputtered and the airplane settled onto the gravel. As the airplane touched down, the engine returned to full power. The airplane lifted off, but collided with willow bushes and nosed over.

The pilot described the weather conditions as: Wind, 360 degrees at five to ten knots; clouds and sky condition, 3,000 feet broken; visibility, 10 miles in haze; temperature, 44 degrees F. In his statement submitted with the NTSB Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot said he encountered continuous carburetor icing during the flight, and applied carburetor heat every few minutes.