Cessna 180-A N9685B

Summary

On 25 March 1989 at about 17:00 local time, a Cessna 180-A registered N9685B was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 1989 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9305, -151.7302

Aircraft

Cessna 180-A

Registration

N9685B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Hewett Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC89LA054

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING/TAKEOFF SITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE IN DEEP WET SNOW. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK INTO THE SNOW. HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF AND RETURN FOR ANOTHER LANDING IN THE TRACKS HE HAD JUST MADE. A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO REACHING LIFT-OFF SPEED, THE RIGHT MAIN SKI HIT A COMPACTED SNOW MACHINE TRACK, CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE ULTIMATELY NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT BELIEVES THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD HE REDUCED POWER AND TURNED AROUND IN HIS LANDING TRACKS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING THE TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.