Cessna 180 accident near Egegik, Alaska, August 23, 2022
On August 23, 2022 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 180, registered N6455X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Egegik, Alaska (Egegik Airport). It was an other work-use 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a lake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2022 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Egegik, Alaska · Egegik Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 D, built 1961 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N6455X · registry record · serial 18050955
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the float equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff into the wind from a lake, the left wing suddenly lifted. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron input; however, the right wing contacted the water. The floatplane nosed over and partially sank. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,654 hours in all; 2,350 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 15,875 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AA05 Narrows AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots, gusting 10
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from PFWS, 33 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PFWS 232056Z AUTO 14011G14KT 10SM BKN070 16/11 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP122 T01560111 51006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident site, view of the aft side of the partially submerged airplane.
Photo 2 – Accident site, view of the aft fuselage left side of the partially submerged airplane.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 9, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation-pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Google Earth View of the Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array-courtesy of the Pilot | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6455X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6455X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 180 Skywagon 2,604 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-R 107 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Egegik Airport · nearest airport
- Ugashik Narrows Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N6455X 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA326.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.