Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flat, Alaska 99584
Tuesady, March 5, 2013 13:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, just after takeoff from the soft, snow-covered, frozen lake and while making a slight left turn, the airplaneā€™s performance degraded and she could not maintain altitude. Subsequently, the airplane descended at the departure end of the lake, impacted snow-covered terrain, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot described the wind conditions at the time of the accident as gusts to 20 knots and variable. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical problems or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting, variable wind conditions during initial climb after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/2013
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Flat
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99584
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 623237N
Event Location Longitude 1580550W
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31260
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2013 7:47PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2550Z
NTSB Number ANC13CA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 185B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 185-0550
Certified Max Gross Weight 3250
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 3 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name MORONEY BRUCE J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CHUGIAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99567
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MORONEY BRUCE J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CHUGIAK
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99567
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 --
Departure City Flat
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Iditarod
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2013 7:47PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --