Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ANC05CA138

Aniak, AK, USA

Aircraft #1

N8624X

Cessna 180

Analysis

The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was landing at a remote airstrip. During the landing flare, the private pilot reported that the left wing of the airplane collided with high brush, and during the subsequent impact with terrain, the airplane received damage to the right wing, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the stabilizer.

Factual Information

On September 6, 2005, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N8624X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with bushes and the ground during the landing approach to a remote airstrip, about 53 miles southeast of Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 7, the pilot's spouse reported that the pilot made a satellite phone call to her to report the accident. The pilot indicated that during the landing flare, the left wing of the airplane collided with high brush. During the subsequent impact with the ground, the airplane received damage to the right wing, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the stabilizer.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a collision with brush during the landing flare. A factor contributing to the accident was high vegetation.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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