Summary
On July 11, 2004, a Cessna 180J (N888FF) was involved in an incident near Bettles, AK. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: 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.
On July 11, 2004, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N888FF, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain when it encountered a downdraft during the initial climb after takeoff from the Bettles Seaplane Base, Bettles, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the commercial pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 12, the pilot said after takeoff the airplane encountered a downdraft and started descending.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC04CA076. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N888FF.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
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.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On July 11, 2004, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N888FF, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain when it encountered a downdraft during the initial climb after takeoff from the Bettles Seaplane Base, Bettles, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the commercial pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 12, the pilot said after takeoff the airplane encountered a downdraft and started descending. He believed the downdraft may have been the result of large wildfire-induced cumulus clouds about 1/2 mile east of the airport, or winds gusting over rising terrain from the southwest. He said there was rising terrain ahead, and he made a downwind turn to escape the downdraft. He said in the turn the airplane continued to descend, and impacted swampy terrain adjacent to the seaplane base. The pilot said prior to the accident there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but the airplane received major damage to its wings, fuselage, tail, floats, and engine during the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC04CA076