Cessna 180B accident near Fort Yukon, Alaska, September 2, 1994
On September 2, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N5143E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Yukon, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS AND FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND A DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Yukon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5143E · no longer on the register · serial 50443
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING A REMOTE LAKE IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AS THE RETURN PORTION OF A CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT AT THE CONCLUSION OF A HUNTING TRIP. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT REPORTED USING 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS THAT HE LOWERED TO 20 DEGREES WHEN THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT BREAK FREE FROM THE WATER SURFACE. THE WATER CONDITIONS WERE SMOOTH AND GLASSY. WHEN THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE'S FORWARD MOMENTUM CARRIED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE LAKE SHORELINE. THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FLOATS CONTACTED THE TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDS USING 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS THROUGHOUT THE TAKEOFF. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER HEAVY LOADS AND GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS, AN ABRUPT APPLICATION OF BACK CONTROL PRESSURE MAY BE NECESSARY TO BREAK FREE OF THE WATER SURFACE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 453 hours in all; 335 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 301 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1994; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,820 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Fairbanks AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.