# NTSB GAA19CA555: Cessna 175, N6837E, Toklat, AK, September 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 15, 2019, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Toklat, AK - Coordinates: 64.527778, -150.423339 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5278&lon=-150.4233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100292 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA555 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100292/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100292 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA555 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff in variable, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after departing from a lake and during the initial climb, the airplane seemed to experience a loss of lift. Uncertain what was causing the loss of lift, he turned left back toward the lake. As soon as the airplane turned, a wind gust hit the tail, and he lost airplane control. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and then impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during the initial climb, the airplane seemed to experience a loss of lift. Uncertain what was causing the loss of lift, he turned left back to the lake. As soon as the airplane turned, a gust hit the tail and he lost control of the airplane. The airplane aerodynamically stalled and the impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane was departing to the north. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6837E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6837E-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 56337 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56337 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 3336.2 - Engines: Franklin 6A-350-CIR 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 2019 - Departed: Toklat, AK - Destination: ENN, Nenana, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.52 inHg - Observed at: PANN, 35 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190915022489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190915022489A), Sep 15, 2019: Cessna 175A, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. Narrative in airman?s words: Sunday, September 15, 2019, at an unnamed lake approximately 35 miles southwest of Nenana, Alaska. Proceeded to do a pre-flight to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100292. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 827 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.