NTSB Factual Report

On February 23, 2007, at approximately 2100 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180, N9115C, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a night forced landing attempt near Bellingham, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Western Alaska Sport Fishing Inc. was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, night, cross-country flight, which had originated in Sitka, Alaska, approximately six hours before the accident. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed and opened.

The pilot said the route of flight was from Anchorage, Alaska, to Sitka, to Bellingham. The leg from Anchorage to Sitka was uneventful. After refueling the airplane, he continued on to Bellingham. He said all was normal until about 400 feet on final approach, when the engine lost power. The pilot said he landed straight ahead into some trees. Subsequently the left wing strut and spar were broken and the wing was drooping approximately 25 degrees down. The fuselage and engine firewall were also bent and wrinkled, and both of the wing leading edges received impact damage.

A postaccident examination of the engine was not accomplished, nor was an engine test run attempted.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the trees.