No fatalities

Tailwheel Airplane Nosed Over After Hitting Concealed Tree Stump

Kenai, AK, United States

On September 2, 2012, a CESSNA 180 operated by Garret Van Horne was involved in an aviation accident near Kenai, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over during a landing roll on a remote unimproved airstrip after its main landing gear struck a concealed tree stump, causing substantial damage.

Accident Overview and Damage Assessment A tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing on a remote unimproved airstrip when the main landing gear struck a concealed tree stump during the landing roll. The impact caused the airplane to nose over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Mechanical Condition The investigation source states that there were no reported mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. No other details regarding the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, or cause are provided in the source material. ## Operational Context The accident occurred during a landing roll on a remote unimproved airstrip. The presence of a concealed tree stump on the airstrip contributed to the main landing gear striking the obstruction, leading to the nose-over event and the resulting structural damage.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Sept 2012 CESSNA 180 accident near Kenai, AK?

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over during a landing roll on a remote unimproved airstrip after its main landing gear struck a concealed tree stump, causing substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Sept 2012 CESSNA 180 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Sept 2012 involved a CESSNA 180, operated by Garret Van Horne, at Kenai, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over.