# NTSB ANC10CA055: Cessna 180, N7715A, Cooper Landing, AK, June 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2010, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Cooper Landing, AK - Coordinates: 60.455833, -150.491668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4558&lon=-150.4917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 76472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was departing from an off airport site on a flight to his home airport under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that just after liftoff, a wind shift caused the tailwheel-equipped airplane to descend uncontrolled, striking its tail and left main landing gear on the ground. He said the airplane became airborne again, and he flew it back to the airport. He reported that once airborne, he saw that the left main landing gear was damaged by the impact with the ground. An examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and the left main landing gear fuselage attachment. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot was departing from an off airport site on a flight to his home airport under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that just after liftoff, a wind shift caused the tailwheel-equipped airplane to descend uncontrolled, striking its tail and left main landing gear on the ground. He said the airplane became airborne again, and he flew it back to the airport. He reported that once airborne, he saw that the left main landing gear was damaged by the impact with the ground. An examination of the airplane by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, showed substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and the left main landing gear fuselage attachment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7715A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7715A), registered now, S/N 32612, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32612 - Airframe hours: 5005 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wallace Wayne P - Registered owner: Wallace Wayne P - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2009 - Departed: Cooper landing, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 12,641 total, 300 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg ## 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 20100624037819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100624037819A), Jun 24, 2010: Cessna 180, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. 1) During take-off from off-field gravel area between rivers, wind shifted during take-off rotation, lost lift into a left BANK2) tail struck ground, followed… ## Other investigations on N7715A (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 ANC66D0069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66D0069), Sep 26, 1965: Cessna 180 (N7715A), Talkeetna, AK, destroyed ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76472. 909 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 909 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.