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N2429C accident description

Alaska map... Alaska list
Crash location 61.189722°N, 149.946944°W
Nearest city Anchorage, AK
61.218056°N, 149.900278°W
2.5 miles away
Tail number N2429C
Accident date 09 Jul 2017
Aircraft type Cessna 180
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 2017, about 1220 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N2429C, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing in a residential neighborhood shortly after takeoff from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and there were no injuries to those on the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local area flight departed the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, at about 1210, destined to return within the hour.

During an on-scene interview on July 9 with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that after a takeoff from the north water lane, and during climb out, he was unable to retract the airplane's wing flaps. He then requested to return for landing, and the Lake Hood Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) specialist on duty granted his request. He said that he then turned right and entered a right downwind leg to return to Lake Hood Seaplane Base. The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg, at an altitude of 600 feet, all engine power was lost. He then selected an open field that was surrounded by a residential neighborhood as a forced landing site. Unable to reach the field, the airplane subsequently landed in the adjacent neighborhood, and just short of his intended forced landing site. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a tree, various structures, a light pole, and a vehicle before coming to rest in a residential street. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, engine firewall and empennage.

The Anchorage Airport Police and Fire Rescue, Anchorage Fire Department and the Anchorage Police Department responded. Multiple witnesses reported to first responders that they heard the airplane's engine lose power just before descending into the neighborhood.

Shortly after the accident, the NTSB IIC, accompanied by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness aviation safety inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), examined the wreckage at the accident site.

The associated debris path was oriented on a heading of 320°. (All headings/bearings noted in this report are magnetic). The wreckage debris path measured about 200-feet long, and a 40-foot tall spruce is believed to be the initial impact point, which was marked by a broken treetop. The debris path between the spruce tree, and the main wreckage site consisted of a downed street light pole, damage to a residential structure (duplex), a storage shed, and a pickup truck that was parked in the street. The airplane eventually came to rest, upright, and within a residential street.

The airplane was equipped with an Continental Motors IO-520 engine.

The airplane wreckage was then recovered to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, and a detailed NTSB engine and airframe examination is pending.

At 1153, an aviation routine weather report from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base (the closest weather reporting facility) reported, in part: wind 340 at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition, few 2,700 feet, few 4,700 feet, broken at 6,000 feet; temperature 55° F, dewpoint 46° F; altimeter, 29.95 inHg.

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