# NTSB ANC19TA044: Cessna 180, N91402, Anchorage, AK, August 12, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2019, 18:30 local (Aug 12, 2019, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.17889, -149.958328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1789&lon=-149.9583&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19TA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100046/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19TA044

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain takeoff heading due to sun glare, which resulted in his inability to see an island adjacent to the water lane and subequent impact with the island.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/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 180H, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airline transport pilot was taking off from a seaplane base. Once the airplane was on step during the takeoff run to the west, the sun was in the pilot’s line of sight and he was unable to distinguish the lake’s southern water channel or see a small island in the water lane because the glare was too bright. Subsequently, the airplane struck the southeastern side of the island, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On August 12, 2019, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N91402, impacted the southeastern shoreline of Gull Island during takeoff from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD) Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from LHD, about 1830. The Lake Hood Seaplane base is comprised of two smaller lakes; Lake Hood to the west and Lake Spenard to the east, and the two lakes are connected by means of a canal. A small landmass situated within the canal, known as Gull Island, separates a water lane to the south, and a taxi lane to the north. Airplanes taking off and landing use the southern water lane. According to the pilot, during the takeoff run to the west from Lake Spenard, once the airplane was on step, the sun was in his line of sight. He added that, the glare was too bright, and he was unable to distinguish the southerly water channel or see Gull Island. Subsequently, the airplane struck the southeastern side of the island, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot added that, he believed that if the floatplane had not been so heavily loaded, the floats "might" have successfully cleared the island. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91402](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91402-2022-06-04), registration cancelled 2022-06-04, S/N 18052070, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052070
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 4031.7
- Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2018
- Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Mat-Su Borough, AK
- Airport: LHD, Lake Hood, runway W, 4,541 × 188 ft, water
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,453 total, 771 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Observed at: PANC, 2 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 20190812015599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190812015599A), Aug 12, 2019: Cessna 180H, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Contacted lake Hood tower via radio (126.8) and requested departure on the left waterway runway west at lake Hood. ATC cleared [privacy…

## Other investigations on N91402 (2)

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 DEN77DQG02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77DQG02), Jan 12, 1977: Cessna 180H (N91402), Jal, NM, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW71DRD30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DRD30), Dec 15, 1970: Cessna 180 (N91402), Leeville, LA, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100046. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.

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