Cessna 180 accident near Haines, Alaska, September 27, 2011
On September 27, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3126D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Haines, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane for an undetermined reason, which resulted in the airplane colliding with trees and the shore.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Haines, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3126D · registry record · serial 31924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off on a glassy lake in a float-equipped airplane. While on step, the airplane veered sharply to the right toward the nearby shore. The pilot said he tried to return to the departure heading using rudder and aileron, but the right wing encountered heavy brush, which caused the airplane to turn toward the shoreline. Realizing he was going to hit the shore, the pilot closed the throttle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage. The pilot said he did not know what caused the initial course deviation, but speculated that he may have encountered something hidden under the surface of the lake. A certificated aircraft mechanic with inspector authorization examined the airplane after the accident and said he did not find any flight control or rigging issues that would explain the initial course deviation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Hidden/submerged object › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,105 hours in all; 1,396 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4,105 as pilot in command; 284 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,827 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Haines AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PAJN Juneau AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.