Cessna 180C N767RK

Summary

On 23 July 2003 at about 00:55 local time, a Cessna 180C registered N767RK was involved in an accident near Punkin Center, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2003 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Punkin Center, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Punkin Center

Coordinates

33.8553, -111.3086

Aircraft

Cessna 180C

Registration

N767RK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Punkin Center → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA240

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to attain adequate climb rate to ensure clearance from obstacles. The tailwind and high density altitude were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a power line and trees during takeoff initial climb from the 1,000-foot-long dirt runway. The pilot reported that his airplane accelerated normally on runway 23. However, during the 40-degree quartering tailwind takeoff, the airplane did not gain altitude as rapidly as he had anticipated. No mechanical malfunction was reported. The wind was from 090 degrees, and its speed was about 5 knots with occasional 10-knot gusts. The ambient temperature was estimated at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the airstrip's elevation was 2,620 feet mean sea level. The Safety Board estimated that the density altitude was about 6,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.