- Date
- August 19, 1996, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Duxbury, MN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2814ACessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960819023249A
- Case key
- 10371
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 failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed.
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 said the airplane lifted off the lake near it's midpoint after extending 20 degrees of flaps. He said the airplane's stall horn was sounding as it flew about 20 feet above the water. The pilot said it was clear to him that the airplane would not clear the trees near the lake's shoreline. The pilot said he turned the airplane to the left and reduced the power for landing while in a turn. He said the airplane's left wing stalled , and the airplane pitched down as it rolled to the left. The left wingtip, followed by the corresponding float, and fuselage collided with the water. The airplane sank shortly after coming to rest. The pilot was asked how many degrees of take off flaps are recommended by the manufacturer. He responded by saying one notch, 10 degrees.
Factual narrative
On August 19, 1996, at 1515 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 180, N2814A, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with the water while maneuvering to avoid trees along the water's edge. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight was departing Big Tamarack Lake, near Duxbury, Minnesota, at 1513 cdt.
The pilot said the airplane lifted off the lake near its midpoint after extending 20 degrees of flaps. He said the airplane's stall horn was sounding as it flew about 20 feet above the water. The pilot said it was clear to him that the airplane would not clear the trees near the shoreline. The pilot said he turned the airplane to the left and reduced the power for landing. He said the airplane's left wing stalled and the airplane pitched down as it rolled left. The left wingtip, followed by the corresponding float, and fuselage collided with the water. The airplane sank shortly after coming to rest.
The pilot was asked how many degrees of flaps for takeoff are recommended by the manufacturer. He said one notch, 10 degrees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2814A
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30014
- Airframe hours
- 6,300
- Engine
- Continental O-470R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David L. Africano
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 1996 · 60 hours before
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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 100 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JMR, 45 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.