- Date
- July 17, 2005, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bowstring, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4652BCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050717015459A
- Case key
- 62174
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 unsuitable water conditions for takeoff selected by the pilot and his inability to maintain aircraft control in the rough water. Contributing factors were the aborted takeoff initiated by the pilot, the rough water conditions and the high, gusty winds.
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 fixed-float equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff in rough water. The pilot reported that by the time he arrived the lake was "rough" and the tie downs were not holding. He stated that during the takeoff run he decided that it was "too rough to continue." He reported that he "let up" on the throttle and was slowing down, when the left float "caught a wave" and the airplane nosed over. Wind conditions recorded by the Bigfork Municipal Airport (FOZ) Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), located 18 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, at 1335, were from 170 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The pilot reported winds from 140 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 2005, about 1345 central daylight time, a fixed-float equipped Cessna 180, N4652B, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff when it encountered rough water and nosed over on Bowstring Lake, Minnesota. The local flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported no injuries.
The pilot reported that high winds were forecast and he planned to relocate his float plane to Turtle Lake for security. He stated that by the time he arrived Bowstring Lake was "rough" and the tie downs were not holding. The pilot stated that during the takeoff run he decided that it was "too rough to continue." He reported that he "let up" on the throttle and was slowing down when the left float "caught a wave" and the airplane nosed over.
Wind conditions recorded by the Bigfork Municipal Airport (FOZ) Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), located 18 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, at 1335, were from 170 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The pilot reported winds from 140 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots.
The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4652B
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31550
- Airframe hours
- 4,317.5
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R46B, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2004 · 164 hours before
- Departed
- Bowstring, MN
- Destination
- Little Turttle, MN
- Airport
- PVT · Bowstring Lake, runway 14, water
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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 429 total · 310 in this make and model · 363 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.62 inHg
- Observed at
- FOZ, 17 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.