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ANC25LA088

2025-08-19 · Delta Junction, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport NONE

Current FAA registration · N4721U

Make / Model
CESSNA 180G
Year of manufacture
1964 · 61 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20180905
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5CB16

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with tree-covered terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff from a remote, wet, gravel-covered, rough and uneven airstrip that was surrounded by trees, the airplane began to unexpectedly descend just after becoming airborne. He attempted to recover by applying aft elevator input; however, the airplane settled into an area of tree and vegetation-covered terrain at the departure end of the airstrip. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, wings, and fuselage. 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.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Climb rate-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ANC25LA088.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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