Event ANC01LA005

Factual narrative

On October 7, 2000, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9306C, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Lake Hood Sea Plane Base, Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the one pilot-rated passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During an on-scene interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 7, the pilot reported that as he started a southeasterly takeoff run, using the southeast water lane, the airplane's acceleration seemed slower than normal due to glassy water conditions. He said that as he neared the end of the water lane, just before the airplane became airborne, he elected to abort the takeoff run. He said that after he closed the throttle, the airplane stayed up on the step longer than he had anticipated, and subsequently struck the lakeshore, and a moored and unoccupied Cessna 185, N61473. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The certificated commercial pilot reported that as he started a southeasterly takeoff run, using the southeast water lane, the airplane's acceleration seemed slower than normal due to glassy water conditions. He said that as he neared the end of the water lane, just before the airplane became airborne, he elected to abort the takeoff run. He said that after he closed the throttle, the airplane stayed up on the step longer than he had anticipated, and subsequently struck the lakeshore, and a moored and unoccupied Cessna 185. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12