ANC10CA009

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182C · Kotzebue, AK · October 30, 2009

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 30, 2009, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Kotzebue, AK
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N8944TCessna 182C
Defining event
Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 6, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
FAA FSDO-01
Case key
75135

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 182C: 4 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Terrain: rough terrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeCessna 182C: 2 casesAll aircraft: 442 cases
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 182C: 9 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to conditionCessna 182C: 1 caseAll aircraft: 253 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector contacted the NTSB investigator-in-charge and reported that he had received information about an unreported accident at a remote off-airport site. He said the information indicated that an accident had occurred about 30 days prior, and that the airplane was still at the accident site. The inspector traveled to the site and confirmed that the airplane was there and that the left wing and left wing spar were damaged. The inspector also reported that the airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The inspector said that he returned to the local airport where the airplane was usually kept and spoke with a certificated aircraft mechanic familiar with the accident. The mechanic identified the pilot and told the inspector that the pilot attempted to take off from a frozen lake but hit a crack in the ice. The mechanic reported that the airplane nosed down, striking the propeller and left wing on the ice. He also reported that the pilot had one passenger. The inspector reported that he made contact with the pilot, but the pilot refused to cooperate with the investigation. The pilot has not responded to any NTSB requests for information.

Factual narrative

A FAA Flight Standards District Office inspector contacted the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and reported that he had received information about an unreported accident at a remote off-airport site. He said the information indicated that an accident had occurred about 30 days prior, and that the airplane was still at the accident site. The inspector traveled to the site, and confirmed that the airplane was there, and that the left wing and left wing spar were damaged. The inspector also reported that the airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The inspector said he returned to the local airport where the airplane was usually kept, and spoke with a certificated aircraft mechanic familiar with the accident. The mechanic identified the pilot, and told the inspector that the pilot attempted to takeoff from a frozen lake, but hit a crack in the ice. The mechanic reported that the airplane nosed down, striking the propeller and left wing on the ice. He also reported that the pilot had one passenger. The inspector reported that he made contact with the pilot, but the pilot refused to cooperate with the investigation. The pilot has not responded to any NTSB requests for information.

Aircraft

Registration
N8944T
Reported as
Cessna 182C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
52844
Engine
Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
John K Baker
Registered owner
Baker Bruce Andrew
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Kotzebue, AK
Destination
PAOT · Kotzebue, 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
46
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
300 total · 10 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
1 statute miles

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 168 KB in all.