# NTSB ANC97LA124: Cessna 180H, N91412, Arctic Village, AK, August 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1997, 17:30 local (Aug 18, 1997, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.090354, -145.599929 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0904&lon=-145.5999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions. Factors were the gusty wind conditions, and the pilot's misjudging the wind information. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The airplane was at maximum gross weight and was departing a lake situated at 3,000 feet msl. After takeoff, in variable winds of 15 knots gusting to 25 knots, the pilot began to retract flaps when the airplane had accelerated to 75 mph. The pilot stated the airspeed dropped to 40 mph, the airplane stalled at about 50-60 feet agl, and descended into the water. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1997, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180H float equipped airplane, N91412, was destroyed when it impacted water during takeoff from Index Lake, 32 miles northeast of Arctic Village, Alaska, at position 68-19 degrees north latitude, 144-15 degrees west longitude. The private certificated pilot and single passenger were uninjured. The airplane was owned and operated by Merle D. Jantz of North Pole, Alaska, as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an extended flight plan was on file with the FAA Fairbanks Flight Service Station. Winds were reported by the pilot as variable from northwest to northeast, and gusting to 25 knots. The aircraft weight according to the pilot was 2,947 pounds. The maximum allowable takeoff weight is 2,950 pounds. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector, and in his NTSB Pilot-Operator Report, that after taking off in a northeast direction from the 5,000 foot long lake, the airspeed reached 75 mph. He indicated that he believes the wind shifted, and as he retracted the flaps the airspeed dropped to 40 mph, and the right wing stalled. He reported the airplane was at 50-60 feet agl when the stall occurred. He was unable to recover from the stall, and the airplane impacted the water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91412](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91412-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 18052075, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 180-52075 - Airframe hours: 1976 - Engines: Continental O-470-R-25 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Merle Duane Jantz - Registered owner: Richard A. Levine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 1997, 53 hours before - Departed: INDEX LAKE, AK - Destination: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 692 total, 303 in this make and model, 607 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °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 19970817025789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970817025789A), Aug 17, 1997: Cessna 180H, Arctic Village, AK, Destroyed. (.4) The airplane was at maximum gross weight and was departing a lake situated at 3,000 feet MSL. After takeoff, in variable winds of 15 knots gusting to 25… 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.