- Date
- September 27, 2011, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Haines, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3126DCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-05
- FAA report
- 20110927022759A
- Case key
- 81928
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 loss of directional control during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane for an undetermined reason, which resulted in the airplane colliding with trees and the shore.
Findings · 3
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.
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
The pilot was taking off on a glassy lake in a float-equipped airplane. While on step, the airplane veered sharply to the right toward the nearby shore. The pilot said he tried to return to the departure heading using rudder and aileron, but the right wing encountered heavy brush, which caused the airplane to turn toward the shoreline. Realizing he was going to hit the shore, the pilot closed the throttle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage. The pilot said he did not know what caused the initial course deviation, but speculated that he may have encountered something hidden under the surface of the lake. A certificated aircraft mechanic with inspector authorization examined the airplane after the accident and said he did not find any flight control or rigging issues that would explain the initial course deviation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was taking off on a glassy water lake, in a float-equipped airplane. While on step, the airplane veered sharply to the right toward the nearby shore. The pilot said he tried to return to the departure heading using rudder and aileron, but the right wing encountered heavy brush, which caused the airplane to turn to the right toward the shoreline. Realizing he was going to hit the shore, he closed the throttle. The airplane received substantial damage to its wings and fuselage. The pilot said he did not know what caused the initial course deviation, but speculated he may have encountered something hidden under the surface of the lake. A certificated aircraft mechanic with inspector authorization examined the airplane after the accident, and said he did not find any flight control or rigging issues that would explain the initial course deviation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3126D
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31924
- Airframe hours
- 4,827
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kinney Nina K Trustee
- Registered owner
- Kinney Nina K Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 26, 2011
- Departed
- Haines, AK
- Destination
- PAJN · Juneau, 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
- 79
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 22, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,105 total · 1,396 in this make and model · 4,105 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Temperature
- 61 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 201 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.