ANC19TA044

Factual narrative

On August 12, 2019, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N91402, impacted the southeastern shoreline of Gull Island during takeoff from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD) Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from LHD, about 1830. The Lake Hood Seaplane base is comprised of two smaller lakes; Lake Hood to the west and Lake Spenard to the east, and the two lakes are connected by means of a canal. A small landmass situated within the canal, known as Gull Island, separates a water lane to the south, and a taxi lane to the north. Airplanes taking off and landing use the southern water lane. According to the pilot, during the takeoff run to the west from Lake Spenard, once the airplane was on step, the sun was in his line of sight. He added that, the glare was too bright, and he was unable to distinguish the southerly water channel or see Gull Island. Subsequently, the airplane struck the southeastern side of the island, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot added that, he believed that if the floatplane had not been so heavily loaded, the floats "might" have successfully cleared the island. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airline transport pilot was taking off from a seaplane base. Once the airplane was on step during the takeoff run to the west, the sun was in the pilot’s line of sight and he was unable to distinguish the lake’s southern water channel or see a small island in the water lane because the glare was too bright. Subsequently, the airplane struck the southeastern side of the island, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Effect on personnel - F
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Debris/dirt/foreign object-Effect on operation