# Accident 20250901015139A: Cessna 180, Willow, AK, September 1, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2025, 11:30 local time
- Place: Willow, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.7526° N, 150.0544° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7526&lon=-150.0544&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2996C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2996C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180 (registry code 2072602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 275 total, 200 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA101) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250901015139A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN STATED THAT ON SEPT 1,2025 HE REINSTALLED THE BATTERY AND ELT BACK INTO THE CESSNA 180 AFTER BEING PARTIALLY SUBMERGED BY WATER AT A CABIN ON THE DESHKA RIVER IN ALASKA.  IT HAD BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO FLY DUE TO THE RAINY WEATHER. THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN SOME SPOTS OF THE AIRSTRIP, HOWEVER IT DID NOT CONCERN HIM. THE WATER WAS ONLY TO THE TOP OF HIS SHOE WHEN HE WALKED THE AIRSTRIP. HE PROCEEDED TO START START THE AIRCRAFT AND CHECK EVERYTHING OUT FOR AIRWORTHINESS. AFTER START AND WARM UP HE DID A RUN UP AND TAXIED UP AND DOWN THE AIRSTRIP TO CHECK OUT THE AIRSTRIP CONDITIONS.  HE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE NORTH END OF THE AIRSTRIP, LINED UP FOR TAKE OFF, APPLIED FULL POWER, RELEASED BRAKES AND BEGAN TAKE OFF ROLL. HE DID NOT THINK THAT HE MADE 200’ BEFORE HITTING A SECOND PUDDLE OF WATER AND NOSED OVER AND ENDED UP ON THE AIRCRAFT TOP.

## 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 ANC25LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA101), Sep 1, 2025: Cessna 180 (N2996C), Willow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff from an unsuitable runway due to large puddles of water, which resulted in a nose over.

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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