The Cessna 180B pilot was inbound to land at Lake Hood Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, and was waiting for a break in chatter on the radio to contact the air traffic control tower.
He was about seven miles from the airport, and about 1,050 feet mean sea level, when he encountered wake turbulence, presumably from a Boeing 747 inbound to an adjacent runway.
He told investigators 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, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
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This September 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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