Cessna 180A accident near Igiugig, Alaska, August 20, 2011
On August 20, 2011 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N26CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Igiugig, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to take off in a variable wind, resulting in a shallow climb and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2011 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Igiugig, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N26CZ · registry record · serial 32859
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taking off in variable wind conditions from a pond in his float-equipped airplane. He stated that, shortly after takeoff, the wind shifted and the airplane began a descent that he was unable to stop. The airplane passed the shoreline and descended onto the ground, where it nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident and that he should have waited for a more favorable wind.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,474 hours in all; 1,067 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 5,382 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,803 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,820 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Igiugig AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: Igiugig AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N26CZ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC11CA083.