# NTSB ANC96LA093: Cessna 206, N5244Z, Anchorage, AK, June 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1996, 12:06 local (20:06 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.219322, -149.850326 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2193&lon=-149.8503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2854/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA093 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, disregard of an air traffic control clearance/instruction to hold short. A factor in the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, disregard of an air traffic control clearance/instruction to hold short. A factor in the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, takeoff - initial climb - atc clearance - disregarded, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Midair collision, takeoff - initial climb - atc clearance - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Cessna 206, N5244Z, had reported to the local controller that he was entering Lake Hood at the public ramp and was water taxiing foe a southeast departure on the lake. Approximately one minute later the pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, reported to the local controller that he was at the east shore of Lake Spenard requesting a west departure. The pilot of the C-180 was advised to 'hold short of the west, advise ready.' The pilot of the C-206 was cleared for takeoff, and the pilot of the C-180 was again advised to hold short; however the C-180 pilot did not acknowledge the radio transmission. The C-206 departed and began a climb over the canal separating the two lakes that comprise the seaplane base. The C-180 departed in a westbound direction. The airplanes collided about 100 feet above the canal. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the C-206 was struck by the right wing of the C-180. The C-206 returned and landed safely. The pilot of the C-180 continued his departure and returned to the seaplane base the next day. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The pilot of the Cessna 206, N5244Z, had reported to the local controller that he was entering Lake Hood at the public ramp and was water taxiing foe a southeast departure on the lake. Approximately one minute later the pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, reported to the local controller that he was at the east shore of Lake Spenard requesting a west departure. The pilot of the C-180 was advised to 'hold short of the west, advise ready.' The pilot of the C-206 was cleared for takeoff, and the pilot of the C-180 was again advised to hold short; however the C-180 pilot did not acknowledge the radio transmission. The C-206 departed and began a climb over the canal separating the two lakes that comprise the seaplane base. The C-180 departed in a westbound direction. The airplanes collided about 100 feet above the canal. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the C-206 was struck by the right wing of the C-180. The C-206 returned and landed safely. The pilot of the C-180 continued his departure and returned to the seaplane base the next day. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) Same as narrative ANC-96-L-A093A ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On June 29, 1996, at 1206 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float equipped Cessna 206, N5244Z, collided with a fixed float equipped Cessna 180, N5020E, over Lake Hood Seaplane base, in Anchorage, Alaska. Both airplanes were being operated as visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flights when the accident occurred. Both airplanes, registered to and operated by their respective pilots, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot of N5244Z and 3 passengers, and the certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of N5020E, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both airplanes were departing Lake Hood Seaplane Base when the accident occurred. The Lake Hood Seaplane Base consists of Lake Hood on the west and Lake Spenard on the east and are connected by a canal. The canal is oriented south of Gull Island that lies between the two lakes. The canal is the east/west runway/water lane of the seaplane base. Lake Hood contains a north/south water lane and a southeast/northwest lane. Lake Spenard contains the departure end of the west water lane. Numerous uncontrolled areas and seaplane docking facilities are contained within both lakes. Review of the air-ground radio communications tapes maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Anchorage, Alaska, Lake Hood (LHD) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) facility, revealed that both pilots were in radio contact with the tower. At 1203:23, the pilot of N5244Z reported to the local controller that he was entering Lake Hood at the public ramp and was water taxiing for a southeast departure on the lake. At 1204:43, the pilot of N5020E contacted the local controller and reported that he was at the east shore of Lake Spenard and requested a west departure. The controller confirmed that the pilot was requesting a west departure and advised the pilot to "...hold short of the west, advise ready." At 1205:02, the pilot of N5020E acknowledged the radio transmission. At 1205:52, the pilot of N5244Z was cleared for takeoff toward the southeast from Lake Hood. At 1206:07, the pilot of N5020E again advised the local controller that he was ready for a west departure. He was again advised to hold short; however, the pilot did not acknowledge the radio transmission. The local controller observed N5020E airborne about mid-canal in a westbound direction and N5244Z airborne in an eastbound direction. Both airplanes collided about 100 feet above the canal.. The pilot of N5244Z initially reported what he thought was a bird strike and returned for landing on Lake Hood. He then filed a mid-air collision report. Damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator was verified by an FAA airworthiness inspector and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC). The pilot of N5020E continued his departure. On June 30, 1996, the pilot of N5020E returned to his dock at Lake Spenard. Damage to the right wingtip and right aileron was verified by the FAA and NTSB. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N5244Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5244Z), registered now, S/N U20606085, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna TU206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206g) (registry code 2073357) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20606085 - Airframe hours: 1050 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-M 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leland Peterson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1995, 13 hours before - Departed: LHD - Destination: BGQ, BIG LAKE, AK - Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Seaplane Base ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5020E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5020E-2019-03-04), registration cancelled 2019-03-04, S/N 50320 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - 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: 50320 - Airframe hours: 2310 - Engines: Continental O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lewis Erhart - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1995, 10 hours before - Departed: LHD - Destination: LOST LAKE, AK - Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Seaplane Base ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5244Z; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5020E; age 76; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 19,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LHD ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960629015562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960629015562A), Jun 29, 1996: Cessna TU206G, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Float plane on climbout from lake takeoff collided with N5020E that was departing canal and ATC had advised to hold - [Accident 19960629015561A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960629015561A), Jun 29, 1996: Cessna 180A, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Floatplane departed canal. No clearance. Struck N5244Z that departed lake toward canal.N5020E departed scene. 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.