# NTSB ANC93LA030: Cessna 180H, Ketchikan, AK, February 4, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 4, 1993, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Coordinates: 55.609283, -131.580444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6093&lon=-131.5804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA030

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN.  FACTORS WERE THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND ROUGH WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING UP AND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING TO HIT THE WATER.  THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 15 GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS.  HEAVY RAIN AND FOG ALSO EXISTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFZEX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052277
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: North Coast Air
- Registered owner: North Coast Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: 5KE
- Destination: CYPR, PRINCE RUPERT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 5KE, Ketchikan Harbor Spb, runway 12, 5,000 × 300 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 815 total, 60 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTN, 3 nm away

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.