# Accident 19970521011639A: Cessna 180F, Ketchikan, AK, May 21, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 1997, 13:13 local time
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.6104° N, 131.5793° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6104&lon=-131.5793&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2175Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2175Z-2007-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180F (registry code 2072614, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180F
- Reported engine: CONT O470R
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521011639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR ON LANDING AN AIRCRAFT FLIPPED AND SANK. (.4)THE PILOT WAS LANDING A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE IN A HARBOR. ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE WATER, THE RIGHT FLOAT PARTIALLY SUBMERGED, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE WATER. THE FLOATS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE, AND THE AIRPLANE THEN SANK. THE WIND CONDITIONS IN THE HARBOR WERE REPORTED TO BE 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA076), May 21, 1997: Cessna 180F (N2175Z), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor relating to the accident was: the unfavorable wind condition with gusts and downdrafts.

## Other reports on N2175Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19790619021579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790619021579I), Jun 19, 1979: Cessna 180F (N2175Z), Hatfield, MA, Minor damage. Pilot attempted to take off in float plane from grass strip using a dolly. Dolly hit long grass, plane slid off.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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