# Accident 19990621021919A: Cessna 180K, Kotzebue, AK, June 21, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 21, 1999, 09:48 local time - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 67.2405° N, 161.1907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2405&lon=-161.1907&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2958K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2958K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 180K (registry code 2072624, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 11,900 total, 195 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA079) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990621021919A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JUNE 21, 1999, ABUT 0948 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N2958K, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 51 MILES NORTHEAST OF KOTZEBUE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SWISS FOREIGN NATIONAL PILOT, WHO HOLDS A SWISS AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATE, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON JUNE 21, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NORTHWESTERLY DEPARTURE FROM A 1,700 FEET LONG OFF-AIRPORT SITE. HE STATED THAT DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE SAID THAT HE APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SITE, PIVOTED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND NOSED OVER. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND LIFT STRUTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY BEEN RETROFITTED WITH OVERSIZED TUNDRA TIRES. HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM THE EAST, AT 10 KNOTS. (-23) DURING A TAKEOFF FROM SQUIRREL CREEK, THE A/C STARTED TO GO TO THE LEFT. ^PRIVACY D^ TRIED TO USE RIGHT RUDDER TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. WHEN THIS FAILED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLE, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT, ^PRIVACY D^ LOST CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED THE A/C. THE A/C CAME TO REST ON ITS BACK. (.4) ON JUNE 21, 1999, ABOUT 0948 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE, N2958K, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 51 MILES NORTHEAST OF KOTZEBUE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SWISS FOREIGN NATIONAL PILOT, WHO HOLDS A SWISS AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATE, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDI TIONS PREVAILED, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON JUNE 21, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A SOUTHEASTERLY DEPARTURE FROM A 1,700 FEET LONG OFF-AIRPORT SITE. HE STATED THAT DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE SAID THAT HE APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SITE, PIVOTED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND NOSED OVER. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND LIFT STRUTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY BEEN RETROFITTED WITH OVERSIZED TUNDRA TIRES. HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SOUTHEAST, AT 10 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 ANC99LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA079), Jun 21, 1999: Cessna 180K (N2958K), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.