What happened
On September 14, 2011, a Cessna 180A, registration N7814A, was performing a takeoff from a sandbar near McGrath, Alaska. During the initial climb, the aircraft encountered a downdraft. This encounter caused the left landing gear to strike a riverbank, which resulted in the gear being sheared off. Following the impact, the left wing made contact with the ground. The aircraft then slid on its fuselage until it came to a stop. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the fuselage, and the tail section.