Sheldon Point Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheldon Point, Alaska 99666
Wednesday, July 28, 1999 18:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo airline transport pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff in a gusty, 90 degree left crosswind. He estimated the wind velocity as 18 knots, gusting to 23 knots. During the takeoff roll, he said a gust of wind lifted the left wing, and forced the airplane to the right, off the runway, and down an embankment, where it nosed over. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone --
Event City SHELDON POINT
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99666
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHELDON POINT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SXP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1490
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2013
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79169
NTSB Number ANC99LA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 172-57932
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 14 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 5952
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS LAPP
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 112
Aircraft Owner City EMMONAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99581
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRANT AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1978
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99559
Operator Code ENHA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ENM
Departure City EMMONAK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2060
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --