# NTSB ANC18LA046: Cessna 180K, N2957K, Ambler, AK, June 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 2018, 15:38 local (23:38 UTC) - Place: Ambler, AK - Coordinates: 67.020553, -158.795272 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.0206&lon=-158.7953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area with unfavorable wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain a climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was conducting a tour flight with two passengers onboard and landed on a hilly sand dune. He reported that the wind increased by 10 to 20 knots over a 2-hour period. The pilot said that, after considering and reviewing several downhill departure routes, he selected a departure route that was into the wind. Just after a downhill takeoff, the headwind diminished, the airplane stopped climbing, and the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane subsequently collided with rising terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot selected an unsuitable takeoff area with unfavorable wind conditions, which likely resulted in the airplane's inability to maintain a climb. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2018, about 1538 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180K airplane, N2957K, sustained substantial damage when it collided with hilly, sand covered-terrain after takeoff from a remote off airport site, about 26 miles southeast of Ambler, Alaska. The airplane was registered to Airframe Innovations Incorporated and operated by Northstar Aero LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 visual flight rules flight when the accident occurred. Of the three occupants, the airline transport pilot sustained no injuries, one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the remaining passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in place. The flight departed the Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA), Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1024, and it was returning at the time of the accident. In the pilot's written statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board, he reported, in part, that after landing on a hilly sand dune, the wind at the top of the sand dune increased to 10 to 20 knots over a two-hour time period. After considering and reviewing several downhill departure routes, the pilot said he marked off the most favorable departure route that was into the wind. The pilot reported that, after loading his two passengers into the airplane, and in preparation for takeoff, he ensured both passengers were wearing their BAS shoulder harness system, then he began the downhill takeoff run. He described the takeoff run as a typical sand dunes departure, with some rocking and bouncing, but the airplane accelerated rapidly downhill, and into the wind. He said that, as the airplane became airborne near the bottom of the dune, he made a slight right turn towards lower terrain, and the airspeed initially increased. He said that, as the airspeed increased to near Vx (Best angle of climb airspeed), the headwind diminished, and the airplane began losing altitude and the stall warning horn sounded. To avoid a collision with a sharp wall of hard packed sand ahead, the pilot said that he continued the slight right turn towards the down sloping terrain, but the airplane continued to descend towards a 60° sloped sand dune. The airplane subsequently collided with the sand dune, sustaining substantial damage to the forward fuselage and serious injuries to the passenger seated in the right front seat. The pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that he credited the lack of more serious injuries to a recently installed BAS, Inc., four-point shoulder harness and lap belt restraint system. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2957K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2957K), registered now, S/N 18053138, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K - Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18053138 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 28488.6 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Northstar Aero LLC - Registered owner: Airframe Innovations Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2018, 8 hours before - Departed: Ambler, AK - Destination: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PAFM, 23 nm away ## 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 20180615020019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180615020019A), Jun 15, 2018: Cessna 180K, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Northstar aero (J1OC) departed fairbanks Alaska on a part 135 VFR charter flight in Cessna 180 N2957K with two passengers on board at around 1030 adt on Friday… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97508. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.