# NTSB ANC00LA117: Cessna 180, N2347C, Sterling, AK, September 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2000, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Sterling, AK - Coordinates: 60.540191, -150.790847 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5402&lon=-150.7908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50281/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain clearance from trees during takeoff from a touch-and-go landing. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she was doing a touch-and-go landing on the 1,500 feet gravel runway. Immediately after touchdown, approximately 500-1000 foot beyond the landing threshold, the pilot applied power and initiated the takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane collided with trees and terrain approximately 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. No mechanical anomalies or failures were reported with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2000, about 1300, Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N2347C, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Sterling, Alaska, at 60 degrees, 32 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees, 52 minutes west longitude. The airplane is owned and operated by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from Kenai, Alaska, about 1245. In a telephone interview on January 29, 2001, the pilot reported that during a touch-and-go landing on the 1,300-foot gravel runway, the airplane touched down approximately 500-1000 feet beyond the landing threshold. Immediately after touchdown, the pilot applied power and initiated the takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane collided with trees and terrain approximately 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane encountered turbulence and a downdraft shortly after departure. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. No mechanical anomalies or failures were reported with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2347C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30647 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Margot A. Lepine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2000, 25 hours before - Departed: ENA, KENAI, AK - Airport: 88AK, Dutch Landing Strip, runway 7, 1,300 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SXQ, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000908042389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000908042389A), Sep 8, 2000: Cessna 180, Sterling, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 8, 2000 at about 1340 hours, adt, a wheel equipped CE-180, N2347C, sustained substantial damage when it hit a tree during takeoff from the… 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. --- 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.