Cessna 180 accident near Dillingham, Alaska, September 7, 1999
On September 7, 1999 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N5316D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska (Shannons Pond airport). 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 inadequate preflight planning. Factors associated with the accident were a short runway, and the pilot's failure to use available performance data.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1999 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · Shannons Pond · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N5316D · registry record · serial 50214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The float equipped airplane was departing to the northeast on a 1,400 feet long seadrome. The pilot told the NTSB IIC that the winds were about four knots, and the water was lightly rippled. He said the fuel tanks were full, and that he could have managed his fuel load better. The estimated takeoff weight was 2,813 pounds. The maximum allowable takeoff weight was 2,820 pounds. The pilot said the airplane got 'on step' normally but did not lift off the water prior to striking the bank at the end of the lake. The Cessna 180A operator's handbook states the required water run for the takeoff conditions is 1,356 feet.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1999; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,820 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Z3 Shannons Pond AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Tikchik Lakes AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.