# NTSB ANC10CA098: Cessna 180C, N180BS, Anchorage, AK, September 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2010, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.18, -149.971939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1800&lon=-149.9719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77412/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77412 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA098 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072608), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072608), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072608), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072608), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on departure from a seaplane base, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The right wing lifted and the pilot could not maintain control. The airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage upon impact with the water. A weather report indicated that, about 10 minutes prior to the accident, wind conditions were at 24 knots, gusting to 38 knots, and peaking at 43 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The floatplane was taking off from a seaplane base and encountered a gust of wind, which lifted the right wing. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage on impact with the water. About ten minutes prior to takeoff, recorded wind near the seaplane base was from 030 degrees at 24 knots gusting to 38 knots, with peak winds of 43 knots. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180BS), registered now, S/N 624, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180C - Registry model: [Cessna 180C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180c) (registry code 2072608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 624 - Airframe hours: 7016 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2010 - Departed: LHD, Anckorage, AK - Destination: Movie Lake, AK - Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Seaplane Base ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,457 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 24 knots, gusting 38 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 28.94 inHg - Observed at: PALH ## 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 20100924049439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100924049439A), Sep 24, 2010: Cessna 180C, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot in command mismanaged the flight controls, which resulted in loss of roll control during a critical phase of flight; rotation. As a result the left… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77412. 521 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.