- Date
- August 21, 2020, 19:00 local (Aug 22, 2020, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kotzebue, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9128TCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20200821014559A
- Case key
- 101901
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 failure to maintain an airspeed conducive to flight during takeoff.
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 reported that during the downhill takeoff from a remote unimproved airstrip, with a quartering headwind, the wind shifted as the airplane became airborne. The airplane settled "with about 100 yds left on the runway" and he continued "trying to milk the flaps" to become airborne while continuing downhill. The airplane never attained flying speed again and settled into a creek bed. After the impact with terrain, the pilot reported there were "several wind gusts of 15-20 mph coming downhill". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the downhill takeoff from a remote unimproved airstrip, with a quartering headwind, the wind shifted as the airplane became airborne. The airplane settled "with about 100 yds left on the runway" and he continued "trying to milk the flaps" to become airborne while continuing downhill. The airplane never attained flying speed again and settled into a creek bed. After the impact with terrain, the pilot reported there were "several wind gusts of 15-20 mph coming downhill". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9128T
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 50628
- Built
- 1959
- Engine
- Continental O-470 SERIES, 255 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- OTZ · Kotzebue, AK
- Destination
- Kotzebue, AK
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 12, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 40,000 total · 10,000 in this make and model · 40,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFM, 75 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 MB 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.
Other investigations on N9128T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.