- Date
- June 28, 2019, 11:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9939VCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 99738
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 failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the left wing striking bushes. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distorted visual perception due to his flying with one seat cushion rather than the two cushions he typically used.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he usually flies with two seat cushions, but he gave one cushion to his passenger. He added that, during the takeoff roll on the narrow grass surface, private airstrip, the missing cushion distorted his visual perception. Using his peripheral vision, he felt the airplane had drifted left, so he applied right rudder and brake. The left wing struck bushes, but he continued the takeoff. The tail lifted, and the airplane veered left into the bushes. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he usually flies with two seat cushions, but he gave one cushion to his passenger. During the takeoff roll on the narrow grass surface private airstrip, he asserted that the missing cushion distorted his visual perception. Using his peripheral vision, he felt the airplane had drifted to the left, so he applied right rudder and right brake. He recalled that the airplane's left wing struck bushes, but he continued the takeoff. The airplane's tail lifted, and the airplane veered left into the bushes. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9939V
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (H)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051791
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 5,382
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 24, 2018
- Departed
- 79AK · Wasilla, AK
- Destination
- 79AK · Wasilla, AK
- Airport
- 79AK · Huttunen Strip, runway 29, 1,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system
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
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 759 total · 78 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- PABV, 8 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 MB in all.
Other investigations on N9939V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.