N4685A

On June 20, 2004, about 1834 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4685A, received substantial damage following a loss of control and collision with the runway during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The 14 CFR Part 91 cross country personal flight was operated by the pilot/owner in visual meteorological conditions. The flight departed Homer, Alaska, about 1715, en route to Merrill Field, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on June 23, the pilot related that during the landing roll on runway 24, the airplane lurched to the right. He said he was unable to maintain directional control despite the application of left rudder, and the airplane subsequently ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left wing and elevator struck the runway and received structural damage. The airplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The pilot noted that the tailwheel airplane is equipped with oversized main landing gear tires, and that the combination of the larger tires and warm runway surface conditions may have made the airplane more difficult to control. He also stated that he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.