- Date
- May 21, 1997, 13:13 local (21:13 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2175ZCessna 180F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19970521011639A
- Case key
- 3008
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor relating to the accident was: the unfavorable wind condition with gusts and downdrafts.
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 landing a float equipped airplane in a harbor. About 100 feet above the water, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane contacted the water, the right float partially submerged, and the right wing struck the water. The floats separated from the fuselage, and the airplane then sank. The wind conditions in the harbor were reported to be 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
On May 21, 1997, about 1313 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180F, N2175Z, crashed during landing at Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Juneau Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported the pilot loaded cargo into the airplane while docked at the Ketchikan International Airport. The pilot utilizes the airplane in support of a logging operation. The pilot departed in an eastbound direction toward the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base.
In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported he was in the landing approach with full flaps. About 100 feet above the water, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot applied full power but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane contacted the water, the right float partially submerged, and the right wing struck the water. The floats separated from the fuselage and the airplane then sank.
At 1253, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) from the Ketchikan Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) was reporting in part: Wind, 110 degrees (true) at 9 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition and ceiling, 5,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet scattered; temperature, 68 degrees F; dew point, 26 degrees F; altimeter, 30.07 inHg; remarks, harbor wind, 140 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots.
An NTSB pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) was not returned by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2175Z
- Reported as
- Cessna 180F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051275
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry A. Craik
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KTN · AK
- Destination
- 5KE · AK
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KTN, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.