# NTSB ANC01LA113: Cessna 180, N7275P, McCarthy, AK, July 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2001, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK - Coordinates: 55.919582, -159.489822 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9196&lon=-159.4898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53073/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was a sudden wind shift. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The certificated commerical pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, just before the airplane reached flying speed, a sudden gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot stated that he tried to abort the takeoff, but was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the airstrip. The airplane rolled to the end of the airstrip, down an embankment, and collided with brush. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2001, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N7275P, received substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Horsfeld airstrip, located about 70 miles northeast of McCarthy, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident airstrip and was en route to Chisana, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 28, the pilot reported that during an uphill takeoff run to the northwest, the airplane failed to gain proper airspeed for takeoff. He said that he aborted the takeoff, but the airplane continued to roll as he approached the end of the airstrip. He said that airplane rolled to the end of the airstrip, down an embankment, and collided with brush. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. Horsfeld airstrip is noted on the NOAA Anchorage Aviation Sectional Chart as 1,100 feet long, and at an elevation of 3,300 feet msl. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) filed by the pilot, he reported that during the takeoff roll, just before the airplane reached flying speed, a sudden gust of wind from the east pushed the airplane to the left. He said that he tried to abort the takeoff, but was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7275P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7275P-2003-11-22), registration cancelled 2003-11-22, S/N 18051677, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051677 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ray A. McNutt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2001, 120 hours before - Departed: MXY, McCarthy, AK - Destination: CZN, Chisana, AK - Airport: 4Z5, Horsfeld, runway 32, 1,000 × 25 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 5, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F 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.