NIKISKI, AK, USA
N5583C
CESSNA 170A
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE ON A LOCAL PRACTICE CIVIL AIR PATROL FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXECUTE A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY 4,000 FOOT PRIVATE STRIP. AS HE TURNED FINAL, THE PILOT SAW THAT HE WAS HIGH AND SLIPPED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO ABOUT 400 FEET AGL. THE CHECK PILOT STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, HE FELT THAT THE PILOT WAS IN 'PERFECT' POSITION FOR LANDING ABOUT 200 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD AND THEN DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE APPROACH. THE PILOT SAID HE ENTERED A SECOND SLIP ON SHORT FINAL TO DISSIPATE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND 'LANDED SHORT OF RUNWAY.' THE CHECK PILOT SENSED THE SECOND SLIP, SAW THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW, AND CALLED FOR A GO-AROUND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN UP SLOPE 25 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
On September 24, 1994, approximately 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N5583C, was destroyed during landing at a private strip near Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane, owned by the commercial pilot, was on a local civil air patrol check flight with an airline transport rated instructor pilot in the right seat. There was a company VFR flight plan in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both the check pilot and the commercial pilot/owner received minor injuries. According to information provided by the crew, they departed Kenai, Alaska, at about 1620 on a local area practice flight. After completing the air work, the commercial pilot decided to execute a practice forced landing at a nearby 4,000 foot private strip. He set up on a left downwind at 2,500 feet and cut the power. The check pilot stated that as the airplane turned final it was apparent to the pilot that he was high and he elected to slip the airplane down to about 400 feet AGL. When the pilot terminated the slip, it seemed to the check pilot that his altitude and airspeed were "perfect" for touchdown about 200 feet beyond the threshold. The check pilot then diverted his attention to other things outside the airplane. The pilot stated that on short final he entered a second slip to dissipate excessive airspeed and "landed short of runway." The check pilot said he sensed the second slip and he noticed that the airplane was low. He called for a go around immediately before impact. The airplane impacted an embankment that sloped up to the runway about 25 feet short of the threshold.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DESCENT RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE CHECK PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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