Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180 near Tyonek, AK — 2021-04-21

Final reportANC21LA032
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Date
2021-04-21
Location
Tyonek, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 180
Registration
N180RJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control while dragging the surface of an ice- and snow-covered lake in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an impact with a tree.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was dragging the surface of an ice- and snow-covered lake in his wheel and ski- equipped airplane near the shoreline to determine the snow conditions. Subsequently, a gust of wind pushed the airplane into a tree located on a spit of land. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had done a better job of evaluating the conditions from the air or conducted operations directly into the wind.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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