Cessna 180 N9383C

Summary

On 7 March 2001 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N9383C was involved in an accident near Ophir, 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

7 March 2001 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ophir, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.9196, -159.4891

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N9383C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ophir → McGRATH

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ANC01LA041

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his inadequate preflight planning/preparation resulting in a collision with trees during the initial climb. Factors in the accident were soft, snow-covered terrain, and trees in the area of departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot landed on snow-covered terrain in a wheel/ski-equipped airplane. By the time he departed, the surface of the snow had become crusty. The pilot said he began a takeoff run toward the south, but the airplane did not become airborne until it was within about 50 yards from several trees. During the initial climb, the left horizontal stabilizer collided with a spruce tree about 25 feet above the ground. The airplane began a descending left turn toward the ground, and collided with several trees while the pilot was making an emergency landing. The airplane received damage to the left main landing gear, the wings, and the left stabilizer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.