Date:	Friday 4 October 2024
Time:	17:30
Type:	Cessna 180G Skywagon
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N4631U
MSN:	18051331
Year of manufacture:	1963
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	near Big Lake, AK -   United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Big Lake, AK
Destination airport:	Anchorage-Lake Hood, AK (LHD/PALH)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
On October 4, 2024, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4631U, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured, and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight.

According to the passenger, the airplane was departing from East Butterfly Lake, near Big Lake for a return flight to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD), Anchorage, Alaska. The passenger reported that just before starting their northerly takeoff run, strong, gusty, variable wind conditions prevailed.

During takeoff from the lake, as the airplane passed low over an area of tree-covered terrain, a sudden gust of wind pushed the airplane towards the trees. The airplane’s right wing subsequently collided with a stand of tall trees, and the airplane came to rest inverted in the lake, partially submerged.

A detailed wreckage examination is pending after the airplane is recovered from the waters of East Butterfly Lake.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan:
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAWS,354 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C /0°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 15 knots / 28 knots, 90°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.07 inches Hg

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/10/05/man-dies-float-plane-crash-near-big-lake/
https://dailydispatch.dps.alaska.gov/Home/DisplayIncident?incidentNumber=AK24101744

NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4631U

https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/5/88979_1625765562.jpg (photo)

Other occurrences involving this aircraft


28 July 2008

N4631U

Private

0

Anchorage, Alaska

sub

Photo: Alaska State Trooper

NTSB investigating the Oct. 4 crash of a float-equipped Cessna C180 aircraft near Willow, Alaska.

— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) October 5, 2024

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
05-Oct-2024 20:15	Captain Adam	Added
05-Oct-2024 22:26	RobertMB	Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Nature, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category, ]
07-Oct-2024 16:09	RobertMB	Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Phase, Source, Narrative, ]
10-Oct-2024 20:43	Captain Adam	Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ]
11-Oct-2024 08:07	ASN	Updated
11-Oct-2024 08:09	ASN	Updated [Narrative, Photo, ]
11-Oct-2024 08:10	ASN	Updated [Destination airport, ]