Cessna 206 and Cessna 180 mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska, June 29, 1996
On June 29, 1996 at about 8:06 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 206 (N5244Z) and Cessna 180 (N5020E), were involved in a mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Seaplane Base airport). No one was hurt; 5 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 of the Cessna 180, N5020E, disregard of an air traffic control clearance/instruction to hold short. A factor in the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft.
The pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, disregard of an air traffic control clearance/instruction to hold short. A factor in the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout for other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1996 · about 8:06 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N5244Z · registry record · serial U20606085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N5020E · no longer on the register · serial 50320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 206 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 206, N5244Z, had reported to the local controller that he was entering Lake Hood at the public ramp and was water taxiing foe a southeast departure on the lake. Approximately one minute later the pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, reported to the local controller that he was at the east shore of Lake Spenard requesting a west departure. The pilot of the C-180 was advised to 'hold short of the west, advise ready.' The pilot of the C-206 was cleared for takeoff, and the pilot of the C-180 was again advised to hold short; however the C-180 pilot did not acknowledge the radio transmission. The C-206 departed and began a climb over the canal separating the two lakes that comprise the seaplane base. The C-180 departed in a westbound direction. The airplanes collided about 100 feet above the canal. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the C-206 was struck by the right wing of the C-180. The C-206 returned and landed safely. The pilot of the C-180 continued his departure and returned to the seaplane base the next day.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 206, N5244Z, had reported to the local controller that he was entering Lake Hood at the public ramp and was water taxiing foe a southeast departure on the lake. Approximately one minute later the pilot of the Cessna 180, N5020E, reported to the local controller that he was at the east shore of Lake Spenard requesting a west departure. The pilot of the C-180 was advised to 'hold short of the west, advise ready.' The pilot of the C-206 was cleared for takeoff, and the pilot of the C-180 was again advised to hold short; however the C-180 pilot did not acknowledge the radio transmission. The C-206 departed and began a climb over the canal separating the two lakes that comprise the seaplane base. The C-180 departed in a westbound direction. The airplanes collided about 100 feet above the canal. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the C-206 was struck by the right wing of the C-180. The C-206 returned and landed safely. The pilot of the C-180 continued his departure and returned to the seaplane base the next day.
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 for the Cessna 206 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1995; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD at 3:05 pm
- Destination: BGQ Big Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,370 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Cessna 180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 19,000 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD at 3:06 pm
- Destination: Lost Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,540 ft by 188 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC96LA093.