Cessna 180 accident near Igiugig, Alaska, September 3, 1995
On September 3, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N5293D, was substantially damaged in an accident 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION TO ASSURE THE AIRPLANE WOULD MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE RIVER BANK DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1995 · about 9:00 pm 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 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N5293D · no longer on the register · serial 50191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE DEPARTING FROM THE MOUTH OF A RIVER IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, TO RETURN THE PASSENGERS TO A FISHING LODGE. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT STRUCK THE EDGE OF A 7 FOOT HIGH RIVER BANK. THE AIRPLANE SLID OVER THE BANK AND DOWN TOWARD AN OCEAN BEACH, THEN NOSED OVER. IT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE FLOATS, WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND VERTICAL STABILIZER.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1995; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: IGG AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.