ANCHORAGE, AK, USA
N89138
CESSNA 140
The certificated private pilot and a passenger were scouting prospective landing areas in remote and rough terrain. The pilot began a low pass over an area of gravel to assess its suitability for landing. The area was about 1,500 feet long at 350 feet msl. Flat light conditions prevailed in the area. On the second low pass over the gravel area, the pilot added power to maintain about 10 feet above the ground. During the low pass, the airplane descended into terrain that was rising slightly. The right main gear struck a small ridge of gravel, damaging the landing gear, right wing and propeller.
On September 8, 1995, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140, N89138, crashed while maneuvering in a remote area about 42 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to a friend of the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Big Lake airport, Big Lake, Alaska at 1857. The pilot reported that after departure from Big Lake, he landed in Palmer, Alaska, for fuel and to pick up his passenger. He then departed for Upper Lake George, located in rugged terrain in the Chugach Mountains, at 1956. The pilot located a prospective landing area and began a low pass over an area of gravel to assess its suitability for landing. The area was about 1,500 feet long at 350 feet mean sea level (MSL). Due to overcast skies and the time of day (sunset), flat light conditions prevailed in the area. On the second low pass over the gravel area in a southerly direction, the pilot added power to maintain about 10 feet above the ground. During the low pass, the airplane descended into terrain that was rising slightly. The right main gear struck a small ridge of gravel, damaging the landing gear, right wing and propeller. The airplane did not nose over. The flight was reported overdue and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued. Search personnel located the crash site on September 9, 1995, about 0113.
failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain during a low pass over a prospective (off-airport) landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: the 'flat' lighting condition, and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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