On February 17, 2018, a CESSNA 180 UNDESIGNAT was involved in an aviation accident near Big Lake, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which led to both skis breaking through the ice while positioning the airplane after landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that after landing on a snow-covered off-airport site, the ski-equipped aircraft broke through soft ice while taxiing, resulting in substantial fuselage damage.
Incident Summary
A pilot reported an accident involving a ski-equipped airplane during taxiing after landing on a snow-covered, off-airport landing site. The pilot was repositioning the airplane for parking when the left ski broke through the ice, followed shortly by the right ski. The pilot stated that he had not observed the area of soft or thin ice before taxiing.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage as a result of the incident.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident occurred after landing on a snow-covered, off-airport site, with the pilot noting he was unaware of the ice condition prior to taxiing.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotDecision related to condition
Other contributing factors
Effect on operation
Related events
Same aircraft family
19 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 180
13 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 180
30 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 180A
27 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 180E
18 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 180J
16 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 180
10 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 180
31 Jul 2026 — CESSNA 180
22 Jul 2026 — CESSNA 180K
9 Jul 2026 — CESSNA 180
3 Jul 2026 — CESSNA 180
21 Jun 2026 — CESSNA 180H
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 17 Feb 2018 CESSNA 180 UNDESIGNAT accident near Big Lake, AK?
A pilot reported that after landing on a snow-covered off-airport site, the ski-equipped aircraft broke through soft ice while taxiing, resulting in substantial fuselage damage.
Were there any fatalities in the 17 Feb 2018 CESSNA 180 UNDESIGNAT accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 17 Feb 2018 involved a CESSNA 180 UNDESIGNAT, at Big Lake, AK.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which led to both skis breaking through the ice while positioning the airplane after landing.
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