Cessna 120 N72536

Summary

On 24 May 2020 at about 03:00 local time, a Cessna 120 registered N72536 was involved in an accident near Gulkana, 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

24 May 2020 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulkana, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.1900, -144.8758

Aircraft

Cessna 120

Registration

N72536

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gulkana → Gulkana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC20CA054

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during final approach to landing, and his subsequent failure to attain sufficient altitude to clear trees during an attempted go-around.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while landing at an unimproved airstrip, his airspeed on final approach was too fast, and he decided to perform a go-around. During the go-around, the left main tire struck trees at the departure end of the airstrip and the airplane subsequently descended into the brush and trees. The right wing and right elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had been more aware of his limitations and the airplane's performance limitations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.