# Accident 20210925021679A: Cessna 180E, Kotzebue, AK, September 25, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2021, 16:30 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Airport: Gravel Bar
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.4891° N, 162.1713° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.4891&lon=-162.1713&mi=10
- Aircraft: N716, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N716-2023-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180E (registry code 2072612, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180E
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 17,500 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210925021679A

## Narrative

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

PIC WAS MAKING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO GRAVEL BAR STRIP DURING THE DAY FROM KOTZEBUE, THIS WAS THE THIRD TAKEOFF/TRIP, PLANNING TO RETURN TO KOTZEBUE.  A FEW INCHES OF SNOW WERE PRESENT, BUT HAD BEEN COMPACTED DURING PREVIOUS TAKEOFF/LANDINGS AND TAXI-BACKS.  PIC SAID PREVIOUS TWO TAKEOFFS WERE UNEVENTFUL WITH ABOUT 5 KTS STEADY HEADWIND.  THIS TAKEOFF CARRIED OUT 2 PASSENGERS, BACKPACK FRAMES (NO CONTENTS) AND LIGHT SURVIVAL GEAR.  FUEL ON BOARD WAS 20 GALLONS TOTAL.  THIS IS BELOW MGTOW.  PIC ESTIMATED WINDS ROSE TO 10KT AND BECOME GUSTY DURING THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF ATTEMPT.  PIC SAID DURING THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF, THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS NORMAL AND UPON BECOMING AIRBORNE, THEY EXPERIENCED A GUST OR TAILWIND THAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE AND TOUCH DOWN RIGHT BEFORE THE RIVER.  THE PIC SAID THEY TURNED TO AVOID A VERTICAL ROCK FACE AND AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BOUNCE AND POSSIBLY HYDROPLANE AT THE EDGE OF THE RIVER.  PIC SAID THEY COULD NOT ACHIEVE FLYING SPEED AND IMPACTED A BANK, WHICH COLLAPSED A LANDING GEAR STRUT.  THE LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK FLIPPED UP AND COMPROMISED THE WING STRUT, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE WING TO FOLD.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## 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 ANC21LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA097), Sep 26, 2021: Cessna 180E (N716), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff due to a gusty, variable wind and the rough terrain.

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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