1989-05-23: Cessna 180 — Green Island, AK

Casualties unknown • Green Island, AK, US

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ROUGH WATER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER WHILE LANDING NEAR GREEN ISLAND, AK. THE AIR TAXI PILOT WAS FLYING TWO BOAT CREW MEMBERS TO THEIR BOATS ON AN UNSCHEDULED CHARTER FLIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE FLARING TO LAND, WHEN IT ENTERED A SLIGHT LEFT TURN & THE LEFT FLOAT 'DUG INTO' THE WATER. THE PILOT BELIEVED THE AIRPLANE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A BOAT'S WAKE THAT HE DID NOT SEE BEFORE THE ENCOUNTER. A CREW MEMBER FROM A NEARBY BOAT DOVE INTO THE WATER AND HELPED THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS ESCAPE.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-05-23 Cessna 180 accident near Green Island, AK?

THE FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER WHILE LANDING NEAR GREEN ISLAND, AK. THE AIR TAXI PILOT WAS FLYING TWO BOAT CREW MEMBERS TO THEIR BOATS ON AN UNSCHEDULED CHARTER FLIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE FLARING TO LAND, WHEN IT ENTERED A SLIGHT LEFT TURN & THE LEFT FLOAT 'DUG…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-05-23 involved a Cessna 180, registration N9944V, at Green Island, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ROUGH WATER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28222. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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