Lake Hood Seaplane Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99517
Friday, September 24, 2010 16:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on departure from a seaplane base, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The right wing lifted and the pilot could not maintain control. The airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage upon impact with the water. A weather report indicated that, about 10 minutes prior to the accident, wind conditions were at 24 knots, gusting to 38 knots, and peaking at 43 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Anchorage
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99517
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 611048N
Event Location Longitude 1495819W
Event Location Airport Lake Hood Seaplane Base
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LHD
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 71
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PALH
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 24
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 38
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 28.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PALH 241353Z 04013G20KT 10SM CLR 07/M06 A292
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27720
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ANC-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2010 5:11PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N180BS
NTSB Number ANC10CA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 180C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 624
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 18 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7016
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT E. BERNA
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99517-1102
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name ROBERT E. BERNA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99517-1102
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 LHD
Departure City Anckorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Movie Lake
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2010 7:24PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --