# NTSB ANC02LA125: Cessna 180, N180TM, Tenakee Springs, AK, September 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2002, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Tenakee Springs, AK - Coordinates: 57.833332, -135.516662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.8333&lon=-135.5167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55764/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, which resulted in a nose over on takeoff roll. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The solo commercial pilot was departing in the tundra-tire equipped airplane from a remote tidal beach. During the takeoff roll, the landing gear tires dug into the soft beach sand, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2002, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra-tire equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N180TM, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during takeoff from a remote tidal beach site, located about 15 miles west of Tenakee Springs, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a local visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident site, about 1325. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on September 16, the pilot reported that due to incoming tidal water, he was attempting to reposition the accident airplane to another area of beach. He said that during the takeoff roll, the landing gear tires dug into the soft beach sand, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180TM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180TM), registered now, S/N 32674 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32674 - Airframe hours: 3900 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth W. Marchbanks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002, 200 hours before - Departed: TKE, Tenakee Springs, AK - Destination: TKE, Tenakee Springs, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles ## 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 20020911026999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020911026999A), Sep 11, 2002: Cessna 180A, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Marchbanks indicated that due to the rising tide he was going to relocate the aircraft to another landing strip. On his takeoff run he encountered a… ## Other investigations on N180TM (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 ANC93LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA169), Sep 6, 1993: Cessna 180 (N180TM), Sweet Lucy Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH WIND CONDITIONS. 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.