Cessna 180J N7807K

Summary

On 21 August 2013 at about 21:56 local time, a Cessna 180J registered N7807K, operated by Kenneth W Castner III, was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, 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

21 August 2013 at 21:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Walby Lake Seaplane Base (AA85)

Coordinates

61.6164, -149.2208

Aircraft

Cessna 180J

Registration

N7807K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth W Castner III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palmer → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13LA081

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off with a slight tailwind.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff from a lake in a westerly direction, the airplane climbed to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) when the pilot retracted the flaps. Subsequently, the airplane rolled to the right and descended into trees and terrain. The pilot stated that he thought that he stalled the airplane on takeoff but that he did not recall hearing a stall warning horn. He added that he may have retracted the flap handle from the third notch to the first notch setting. Examination of the airplane revealed that flap handle was in the second notch, or 20-degree setting. The stall warning horn was removed and functioned normally; however, the investigation was unable to determine if the stall warning system was intact and calibrated due to impact damage to the wing and airframe. A review of weather data from a reporting facility about 4 miles east of the accident site revealed that about 3 minutes before the accident the wind was from 080 degrees at 8 knots, indicating that a slight tailwind would have existed at takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.