# NTSB ANC83FA095: Cessna C-188, N731CN, Noatak, AK, June 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1983, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Noatak, AK
- Coordinates: 67.570564, -163.000854 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.5706&lon=-163.0009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA095

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - flt control syst,elevator control - blocked(partial) (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY AT THE MID-POINT IN A 30 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE DURING TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED AT THE NORTH END OF THE 5000 FOOT RUNWAY AND AFTER 500 FEET THE ACFT LIFTED OFF NORMALLY. THE PILOT THEN RELAXED THE BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR TO ACCELERATE TO BEST CLIMB SPEED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT AT THE MID-POINT OF THE RUNWAY THE ACFT BEGAN TO PITCH DOWN GENTLY SO HE APPLIED SOME NOSE UP TRIM BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO PITCH DOWN AND THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL STICK WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FARTHER AFT THAN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO PITCH DOWN UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF TOOLS & PLYWOOD IN THE TAIL SECTION. NO ITEMS WERE FOUND LODGED SO AS TO INTERFER WITH THE FLT CONTROLS. ALL THE FLT CONTROLS HAD CONTINUITY BUT THE ELEVATOR CABLES HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SLACK BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE ACFT UNCONTROLLABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N731CN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731CN-1996-10-16), registration cancelled 1996-10-16, S/N 18802792T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-188
- Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18802792T
- Airframe hours: 1464
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Northwestern Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1983, 0 hours before
- Departed: OTZ, KOTZEBUE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Red Dog, runway 21, 5,000 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 19,033 total, 5 in this make and model, 19,033 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19830611025079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830611025079A), Jun 11, 1983: Cessna 172N, Red Dog Mining, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft nosed into ground on liftoff. Tools and junk in aircrafts fuselage may have jammed elevator controls.

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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