- Date
- September 25, 2021, 16:30 local (Sep 26, 2021, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kotzebue, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N716Cessna 180E
- 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 Flight Standards
- FAA report
- 20210925021679A
- Case key
- 103977
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 control during takeoff due to a gusty, variable wind and the rough terrain.
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 he was attempting to takeoff from a gravel bar along a river. The airplane got airborne and cleared a rock bluff; however, it settled back to the ground on the other side. The terrain was rough, and he was unable to get the airplane airborne again. The left landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was damaged. The pilot stated there were no issues with the airplane before the accident, and the engine seemed to be making full power. The wind was gusty and variable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N716
- Reported as
- Cessna 180E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051088
- Built
- 1961
- Airframe hours
- 5,000
- Engine
- Continental Motors O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- N/A · Otz, AK
- Airport
- PAOT · Ralph Wien Memorial
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2021
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 17,000 total · 11,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 1.25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.83 inHg
- Observed at
- PAWN, 19 nm away
- METAR
- SPECI PAWN 260028Z AUTO 03006KT 1 1/4SM -SN BR OVC012 M02/M03 A2983
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 631 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.