Accident Cessna 180 N9024C, Sunday 5 February 1989

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Date:	Sunday 5 February 1989
Time:	15:30 LT
Type:	Cessna 180
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N9024C
MSN:	31072
Year of manufacture:	1954
Total airframe hrs:	2435 hours
Engine model:	Continental O-470-J
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Wrangell, AK - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A ROUGH AND UNEVEN FROZEN RIVER IN THE SKI EQUIPPED ACFT. THE TAKEOFF WAS MADE INTO WINDS OF 20 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS. AS THE ACFT REACHED A SPEED OF APRX 35 KTS, A GUST OF WIND, COMBINED WITH THE ACFT BOUNCING ON THE ROUGH TERRAIN, TIPPED THE ACFT, CAUSING THE WING TO DRAG AND THE ACFT TO CARTWHEEL.

Probable Cause: THE PLT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS AND GUSTING WINDS.

Accident investigation: