N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ambler, Alaska 99786
Tuesady, September 16, 2014 10:15 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing from a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, as the airplane remained in ground effect, a crosswind pushed the airplane over the edge of a hill where the wind direction changed, and it subsequently settled back to the ground and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings, horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to takeoff from a rough airstrip in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2014
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone --
Event City Ambler
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99786
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 665351N
Event Location Longitude 1583426W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1816 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 54
Weather Observation Facility ID PAFM
Elevation of weather observation facility 289
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.59
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PAFM 161816Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT034 OVC048
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33450
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC Anchorage, AK
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2014 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record johc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6589E
NTSB Number ANC14CA083
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 175
Aircraft Series Identifier UNDESIGNAT
Aircraft Serial Number 56081
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
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 Sep 7 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1821
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name LEWIS MITCHELL C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City KOTZEBUE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 997520461
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name LEWIS MITCHELL C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City KOTZEBUE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 997520461
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 Ambler
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone AKD
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OTZ
Destination City KOTZEBUE
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2014 5:41PM
User who most recently changed record stam
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 --