# NTSB WPR22LA326: Cessna 180, N6455X, Egegik, AK, August 23, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 23, 2022, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Egegik, AK
- Coordinates: 58.085284, -156.89764 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.0853&lon=-156.8976&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA326
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105837/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105837
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA326

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a lake.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the float equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff into the wind from a lake, the left wing suddenly lifted. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron input; however, the right wing contacted the water. The floatplane nosed over and partially sank. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6455X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6455X), registered now, S/N 18050955, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (D)
- Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18050955
- Year built: 1961
- Engines: Continental O-470-R reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Tracy Vrem
- Registered owner: Great Basin Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Destination: AA05, Narrows, AK
- Airport: PAII, Egegik Airport
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 20,654 total, 2,350 in this make and model, 15,875 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 15 knots, gusting 10
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: PFWS, 33 nm away
- METAR: PFWS 232056Z AUTO 14011G14KT 10SM BKN070 16/11 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP122 T01560111 51006

## 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 20220823014999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220823014999A), Aug 23, 2022: Cessna 180D, Egegik, AK, Destroyed. On August 23, 2022, a Cessna 180 seaplane N6455X impacted the water resulting from a loss of control during takeoff from Egegik river lagoon near becharof lake…

## Other investigations on N6455X (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC86LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA110), Jul 11, 1986: Cessna 180 (N6455X), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105837. 47.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 25.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14584409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation-pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14584305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Google earth view of the accident site (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 21.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14583958&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GE%20View-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of the pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14584295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20courty%20of%20the%20pilot-Rel.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.

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