Cessna 180J N888FF

Summary

On 11 July 2004 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 180J registered N888FF, operated by Thomas Bass, was involved in an accident near Bettles, 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

11 July 2004 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bettles, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

VOR Lake Waterlane Seaplane (2A4)

Coordinates

66.9153, -151.5281

Aircraft

Cessna 180J

Registration

N888FF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Bass

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bettles → Deadhorse

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04CA076

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and a downdraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the initial climb after takeoff the float-equipped airplane encountered a downdraft and was unable to climb. Rising terrain and trees necessitated a downwind turn. During the turn, the airplane continued to descend, and the airplane impacted swampy terrain adjacent to the floatplane base. The pilot attributed the downdraft to either the large wildfire-induced cumulus clouds 1/2 mile east of the airport, or the winds gusting over rising terrain from the southwest.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.