Kirbybilt XCALIBUR N505XC

Summary

On 19 July 2016 at about 22:30 local time, a Kirbybilt XCALIBUR registered N505XC was involved in an accident near Valdez, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 July 2016 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Valdez, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.1622, -146.5483

Aircraft

Kirbybilt XCALIBUR

Registration

N505XC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valdez → Valdez

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC16CA055

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the airstrip, a landing gear collapse, and subsequent substantial damage to the fuselage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he made an approach to a remote grass airstrip that resulted in the tailwheel-equipped airplane being too low to make the airstrip threshold. During the touchdown, the main landing gear impacted an embankment and collapsed, and the bottom of the fuselage impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported to avoid landing at this particular area until more reconnaissance is conducted along with additional off airport operations practice. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses a low final approach and states in part: When it is realized the runway will not be reached unless appropriate action is taken, power must be applied immediately to maintain the airspeed while the pitch attitude is raised to increase lift and stop the descent. When the proper approach path has been intercepted, the correct approach attitude should be reestablished and the power reduced and a stabilized approach maintained.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.