Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cape Yakataga, Alaska 99574
Wednesday, September 17, 2003 19:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport certificated pilot was departing from a remote beach area. The pilot indicated that he planned to depart toward the west, but was looking directly into the sun, so he altered his takeoff direction slightly to the left of his planned path. During the takeoff run, just as the airplane began to lift off, the right main landing gear struck a partially buried log. The pilot aborted the takeoff and stopped the airplane. He discovered that the right gear strut was displaced aft about 45 degrees, and outboard about 20 degrees. The right main landing gear fuselage attach point was extensively buckled and torn.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for departure, which resulted in a collision with a log during the takeoff roll. Factors contribuiting to the accident were the presence of hidden obstructions, and sunglare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone --
Event City Cape Yakataga
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99574
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 600600N
Event Location Longitude 1424930W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15264
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 244
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-L-JNU FSDO 05

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2162Z
NTSB Number ANC03LA122
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18051262
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Oct 18 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 4213
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Christopher J. Pettine
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City North Pole
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Benjamin K. Baker
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City North Pole
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99705
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City CAPE YAKATAGA
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 27 2004 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --