# NTSB ANC93LA187: Cessna 180A, N9600B, Charlie Lake, AK, September 20, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1993, 16:30 local (Sep 20, 1993, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Charlie Lake, AK - Coordinates: 55.920886, -159.489227 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9209&lon=-159.4892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2436/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA187 ## Probable cause THE PILOT DELAYED HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND DID NOT FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES FOR THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WHEN HE REALIZED HE PROBABLY WOULD NOT GET THE FLOATPLANE AIRBORNE BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE LAKE. HE SAID HE MISTAKENLY PULLED THE PROPELLER CONTROL KNOB BACK INSTEAD OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL KNOB. THE AIRPLANE HIT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE AND WENT UP ONTO THE TUNDRA, DURING WHICH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 19, 1993, at 1630 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9600B, over ran the lake and collided with the terrain during an attempted takeoff at Charlie Lake, located 15 miles east of Farewell, Alaska. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 at the time. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. Shortly after the accident, during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following in part: "During the takeoff run I had one float off the water, and a gust of wind caused it to settle back down on the water. I didn't think I would get airborne before reaching the end of the lake, so decided to abort the takeoff. Then I mistakenly pulled back the propeller control knob instead of the throttle control knob. The airplane hit the edge of the lake and went up onto the tundra. The float struts and the left wing strut were damaged and had to be replaced." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9600B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9600B-2012-08-01), registration cancelled 2012-08-01, S/N 32897, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A - 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: 32897 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cunningham, Raymond E. - Registered owner: Cunningham, Raymond E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1993, 34 hours before - Destination: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 545 total, 475 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19930919036359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930919036359A), Sep 19, 1993: Cessna 180A, Charlie Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Unable to clear shore on water takeoff. Pulled back prop control instead of throttle aborting takeoff. Hit shore. ## Other investigations on N9600B (1) 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 ANC96LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA043), Apr 5, 1996: Cessna 180 (N9600B), Big Lake, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: fuel starvation due to unporting of the fuel tank inlet, and the pilot's use of a steep, nose-low attitude during descent on the approach to land. The low level of fuel remaining was a related factor. 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.