- Date
- August 25, 2007, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Skwentna, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1560CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20070825020879A
- Case key
- 66713
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in the airplane descending uncontrolled into high vegetation. Factors contributing to the accident were wind gusts and a crosswind.
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 private certificated pilot was taking off from an unimproved, off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was taking off in gusty crosswind conditions, and a gust "caught the left wing pushing me to the ground." He also said the right landing gear wheel caught in the brush, pulling the airplane to the ground. The airplane impacted the ground, rolled onto its left side, and was destroyed by a postcrash fire.
Factual narrative
The private certificated pilot was taking off from an unimproved, off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was taking off in gusty crosswind conditions, and a gust "caught the left wing pushing me to the ground." He also said the right landing gear wheel caught in the brush, pulling the airplane to the ground. The airplane impacted the ground, rolled onto its left side, and was destroyed by a postcrash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1560C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30260
- Airframe hours
- 3,200
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ron Kowalski
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2007
- Departed
- Skwentna, 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
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 625 in this make and model · 98 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.