- Date
- February 5, 1989, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wrangell, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9024CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890205011649A
- Case key
- 40979
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The plt's failure to properly compensate for the wind during takeoff on unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident were the terrain conditions and gusting winds.
Analysis
The plt attempted a takeoff from a rough and uneven frozen river in the ski equipped acft. The takeoff was made into winds of 20 KTS gusting to 35 KTS. As the acft reached a speed of aprx 35 KTS, a gust of wind, combined with the acft bouncing on the rough terrain, tipped the acft, causing the wing to drag and the acft to cartwheel.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9024C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31072
- Airframe hours
- 2,435
- Engine
- Continental O-470-J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary L. Allen, Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 12, 1989 · 2 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 330 in this make and model · 290 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 10 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9024C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.