Probable cause
The pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported he was inbound to land and was waiting for a break in chatter on the radio to contact the air traffic control tower. He was about 7 miles from the airport, and about 1,050 ft mean sea level when he encountered wake turbulence presumably from a Boeing 747 inbound to an adjacent runway. He stated the airplane violently dropped and he struck his head on the ceiling. He was able to maintain control of the airplane and land uneventfully. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC24LA093 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 14, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Lake Hood (LHD)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 180B
- N-number
- N5275E
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1959
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.