Probable cause
The pilot's decision to take off with ice- and snow-contaminated wings.
NTSB analysis
Prior to departure, the commercial pilot attempted to remove ice and snow contamination from the wings of the float-equipped airplane, but some contamination remained. During the takeoff run, the airplane failed to become airborne before reaching the end of the lake. The airplane slid along a gravel spillway for several hundred feet before nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that the accident might have been avoided if he had removed all the frozen contamination from the wing or waited for above-freezing temperatures.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12CA115 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 1, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Port Lions, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Shotgun Lake (PVT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Cessna 182A
- N-number
- N2028G
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Business
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.