- Date
- September 16, 2014, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Ambler, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6589ECessna 175
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20140916021259A
- Case key
- 90088
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 decision to takeoff from a rough airstrip in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control.
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.
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 departing from a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, as the airplane remained in ground effect, a crosswind pushed the airplane over the edge of a hill where the wind direction changed, and it subsequently settled back to the ground and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings, horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was departing from a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, as the airplane remained in ground effect, a crosswind pushed the airplane over the edge of a hill where the wind direction changed, and it subsequently settled back to the ground and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings, horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6589E
- Reported as
- Cessna 175 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 56081
- Built
- 1959
- Airframe hours
- 1,821
- Engine
- Cont Motor GO-300 SERIES, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 7, 2013
- Departed
- Ambler, AK
- Destination
- OTZ · 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 2, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 340 total · 36 in this make and model · 255 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 33.2 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.59 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFM, 21 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 652 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.