- Date
- August 9, 2001, 20:00 local (Aug 10, 2001, 04:00 UTC)
- Place
- Big Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2716XCessna 180H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 15, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards
- FAA report
- 20010809039729A
- Case key
- 53216
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from near the mouth of a river in a float-equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the right float collided with a sand bar, and the main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
Factual narrative
On August 9, 2001, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N2716X, received substantial damage when it collided with a sandbar during takeoff from the Alexander River, located about 20 miles southwest of Big Lake, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight departed Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1700. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 13, the pilot related he initiated a takeoff from the Alexander River near its confluence with the Susitna River. The pilot said the right float struck a sandbar he didn't see, and the right float collapsed. The right wing subsequently hit the sandbar, and received substantial damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2716X
- Reported as
- Cessna 180H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051516
- Airframe hours
- 1,350
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles Laraux
- Registered owner
- Intrepid Pilot's Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 20, 2001 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- Big Lake, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 19, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 23,400 total · 200 in this make and model · 20,000 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 57 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2716X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.