# NTSB ANC99LA134: Cessna 180, N5316D, Dillingham, AK, September 7, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1999, 18:30 local (Sep 7, 1999, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.820194, -157.85997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8202&lon=-157.8600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47329/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors associated with the accident were a short runway, and the pilot's failure to use available performance data. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The float equipped airplane was departing to the northeast on a 1,400 feet long seadrome. The pilot told the NTSB IIC that the winds were about four knots, and the water was lightly rippled. He said the fuel tanks were full, and that he could have managed his fuel load better. The estimated takeoff weight was 2,813 pounds. The maximum allowable takeoff weight was 2,820 pounds. The pilot said the airplane got 'on step' normally but did not lift off the water prior to striking the bank at the end of the lake. The Cessna 180A operator's handbook states the required water run for the takeoff conditions is 1,356 feet. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1999, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N5316D, sustained substantial damage when it did not become airborne during takeoff and collided with level terrain at the end of the Shannon's Pond seaplane base, Dillingham, Alaska. The accident occurred at 59 degrees 03.54 minutes north latitude, 158 degrees 34.63 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot and the one passenger on board were not injured. The visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 by the airplane's owner. The flight was departing for the Tikchik Lakes, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 8, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he water taxied to the southwest end of the 1,400 feet long by 100 feet wide, northeast-southwest water lane and began the takeoff run. He said the winds were north about four knots, and the water surface was lightly rippled. The flaps were set to 20 degrees. The pilot indicated that the airplane came up "on step" normally, but did not lift off the water before colliding with the northeast end of the lake. The airplane came to rest several hundred feet beyond the lake edge, and sustained substantial damage to several fuselage stringers aft of the rear float attachments. The pilot stated that the airplane contained full standard fuel tanks, about 100 pounds of equipment, and that he and the passenger weigh 450 pounds combined. He stated in his Pilot/Operator report that he could have managed his fuel better. The allowable maximum takeoff weight for the airplane is 2,820 pounds. The NTSB IIC estimated the actual takeoff weight to be 2,813 pounds. The Cessna 180A pilot operating handbook states the takeoff water run on floats, at 2,820 pounds is 1,356 feet with zero knots of headwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5316D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5316D), registered now, S/N 50214, built 1958 (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: 50214 - Airframe hours: 3700 - Engines: Continental O-470K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Lee Gerrity - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1999, 12 hours before - Departed: 0Z3, SHANNONS POND, AK - Destination: TIKCHIK LAKES, AK - Airport: 0Z3, Shannons Pond, runway 3, 1,400 × 100 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19990906026409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990906026409A), Sep 6, 1999: Cessna 180, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 6, 1999, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N5316D, sustained substantial damage when it did not become… 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.