# NTSB ANC90LA182: Cessna 180-A, N5276D, Wood Creek, AK, September 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1990, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Wood Creek, AK
- Coordinates: 65.389808, -148.329132 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.3898&lon=-148.3291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5461/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA182

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER LIFT OFF AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## 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
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vlo) - not attained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE 20 FT WIDE GRAVEL STRIP. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKE OFF AND GOT AIRBORNE BUT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK INTO A RIVER THAT WAS OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5276D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5276D-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 50174, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180-A
- Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50174
- Airframe hours: 4143
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edwin W. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1990, 20 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; flight instructor, military, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,320 total, 350 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 212 in the last 90 days, 92 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °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 19900920044639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900920044639A), Sep 20, 1990: Cessna 180A, Wood Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control on early lift off from gravel bar strip. Veered and settled impacting river bank. Loaded to full gross.

## Other investigations on N5276D (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 ANC82DA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA061), Jul 12, 1982: Cessna 180 (N5276D), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA75DYA32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75DYA32), Feb 20, 1975: Cessna 180 (N5276D), Dubois, ID, substantial damage

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.