Cessna 180 N4563B

Summary

On 8 September 2002 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4563B was involved in an accident near Port Heiden, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 September 2002 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

56.9500, -158.6167

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4563B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Heiden → Pilot Point

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that prior to starting his takeoff roll atop a 1,500 foot long volcanic cinder bed, he noted that the prevailing winds were out of the north, at 15 knots. During a northerly takeoff, just after liftoff, the northerly winds dissipated, and the airplane would not continue to climb. The airplane subsequently collided with a stand of trees at the departure end of the site, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.