- Date
- September 23, 1995, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Craig, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N9208CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950923039189A
- Case key
- 2745
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 selection of an unsuitable taxi/takeoff area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was taxiing the airplane for takeoff in rough water, using the plow taxi technique. During the taxi, the airplane was pulled to the right. Examination of the airplane showed damage to the right wing and the spar of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot did not see an object in the water that could have struck the airplane.
Factual narrative
On September 23, 1995 at 1330 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9208C, registered to and operated by the pilot, received substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff from the bay at Port Bagal, Alaska. Port Bagal is located at Craig, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the Port Bagal Bay and the destination was Ketchikan, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the pilot filed a visual flight rules flight plan. The certificated private pilot and the three passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.
During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 27, 1995, he stated he was taxiing in rough water using the plow taxi technique. During the taxi, he felt the right side of the airplane strike something and he cut the engine power. After the airplane stopped, he looked out and saw damage to the right wing. He returned to parking. Subsequent examination of the airplane showed damage to the right wing and the spar on the horizontal stabilizer.
The pilot stated he could not see any object in the water that could have struck the airplane.
During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 27, 1995, he stated the accident occurred on September 23, 1995. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot indicated the accident occurred on September 28, 1995. The pilot completed the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 on February 26, 1996.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9208C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31302
- Airframe hours
- 2,390
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Matthew A. Dinon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1995 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- Port Bagal, AK
- Destination
- KTN · Ketchikan, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 350 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- 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.