Shannons Pond Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Monday, September 6, 1999 18:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The float equipped airplane was departing to the northeast on a 1,400 feet long seadrome. The pilot told the NTSB IIC that the winds were about four knots, and the water was lightly rippled. He said the fuel tanks were full, and that he could have managed his fuel load better. The estimated takeoff weight was 2,813 pounds. The maximum allowable takeoff weight was 2,820 pounds. The pilot said the airplane got 'on step' normally but did not lift off the water prior to striking the bank at the end of the lake. The Cessna 180A operator's handbook states the required water run for the takeoff conditions is 1,356 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors associated with the accident were a short runway, and the pilot's failure to use available performance data.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone --
Event City DILLINGHAM
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99576
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHANNONS POND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0Z3
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 80
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1507
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 8 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2001 3:36PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5316D
NTSB Number ANC99LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 50214
Certified Max Gross Weight 2820
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 3700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES LEE GERRITY
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 672
Aircraft Owner City DILINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99576
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7907 BRENTWOOD DRIVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0Z3
Departure City SHANNONS POND
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City TIKCHIK LAKES
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 1400
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --