# NTSB ANC04CA076: Cessna 180J, N888FF, Bettles, AK, July 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2004, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Coordinates: 66.915275, -151.52806
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9153&lon=-151.5281&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 October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59643/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA076

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain.  Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and a downdraft.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - swampy

## Analysis

During the initial climb after takeoff the float-equipped airplane encountered a downdraft and was unable to climb.  Rising terrain and trees necessitated a downwind turn.  During the turn, the airplane continued to descend, and the airplane impacted swampy terrain adjacent to the floatplane base.  The pilot attributed the downdraft to either the large wildfire-induced cumulus clouds 1/2 mile east of the airport, or the winds gusting over rising terrain from the southwest.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 2004, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N888FF, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain when it encountered a downdraft during the initial climb after takeoff from the Bettles Seaplane Base, Bettles, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated by the commercial pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  The pilot and sole passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 12, the pilot said after takeoff the airplane encountered a downdraft and started descending.  He believed the downdraft may have been the result of large wildfire-induced cumulus clouds about 1/2 mile east of the airport, or winds gusting over rising terrain from the southwest.  He said there was rising terrain ahead, and he made a downwind turn to escape the downdraft.  He said in the turn the airplane continued to descend, and impacted swampy terrain adjacent to the seaplane base.  The pilot said prior to the accident there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but the airplane received major damage to its wings, fuselage, tail, floats, and engine during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N888FF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052669
- Engines: Continental O-470-S reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas Bass
- Registered owner: Rhomas Bass
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: PABT, Bettles, AK
- Destination: PASC, Deadhorse, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 2A4, VOR Lake Waterlane Seaplane, runway 14W

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,511 total, 831 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20040711013229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711013229A), Jul 11, 2004: Cessna 180J, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] was PIC of N888FF with 1 passenger on board @ Bettles seaplane base on 07/11/2004. [privacy data omitted] Made four takeoff…

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.

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