Cessna 180A N5218D

Summary

On 15 June 1999 at about 20:45 local time, a Cessna 180A registered N5218D was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 1999 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Chena Hot Springs (AK13)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 180A

Registration

N5218D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McKinley Park → Chena Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA077

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision during a go-around. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path to the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated airline transport pilot was beginning a landing approach at a private airport. The airport was located in an open area of flat terrain along a creek drainage, surrounded by rising, tree covered terrain. The pilot said he planned to conduct a fly-by inspection of the airport before landing. He turned onto the final approach, and decided to skip the fly-by. He discovered he was high on the glide path, and began a go-around. He indicated he did not analyze a go-around track until he started the maneuver. He began a turn to the left, but the terrain was visually deceiving, and rising steeply. The pilot then turned to the right, but the airplane was unable to out-climb the terrain. The airplane collided with trees, about 1/2 mile west of the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.