# Accident 19980718023669A: Cessna U206G, Palmer, AK, July 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 1998, 18:28 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6202° N, 148.9808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6202&lon=-148.9808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7370N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7370N-2010-08-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna U206G (registry code 2073356, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G
- Reported engine: CONT IO520F
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,808 total, 683 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA103) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718023669A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLYING LOW UP GLACIER SLOPE GOT DOWNDRAFT. DESCENDED. COLLIDED WITH GLACIER. WINDS FLOWING DOWN GLACIER. (.4)THE FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT TO BE IN CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF A GLACIER.  HE ESTIMATED THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AT 3,312 POUNDS.  HE WAS FLYING IN A UP-GLACIER DIRECTION, IN A MOUNTAINOUS VALLEY.  THE PREVAILING WINDS AT THE SURFACE WERE REPORTED BY THE PILO TO BE 15 KNOTS IN A DOWN-GLACIER DIRECTION.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND RAPIDLY, AND THAT FULL POWER DID NOT ARREST THE DESCENT. THE CESSNA U206G PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE A CLIMB RATE BETWEEN 915 AND 1005 FEET PER MINUTE GIVEN THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS. THE PILOT SAID THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND THAT HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN BECAUSE THE MOST FAVORABLE LANDING TERRAIN WAS AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SLIGHT RISING TERRAIN, IN A WINGS LEVEL, NOSE UP ATTITUDE, JUST AS THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED.  THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE FOUR OCCUPANTS.                      (-23) AIRMAN DEPARTED ELMENDORF AFB 6 MILE LAKE ON A FLIGHT SEEING TRIP. UP ON REACHING 3050' OVER KNIK GLACIER, HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND CONTACTED THE TERRAIN. HE STATED WINDS ON THE SURFACE WERE DOWN GLACIER AT APPROXIMATELY 15 KNOTS. HE ADDED FULL POWER BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT BEFORE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ALL THE AIRMAN'S PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER INCLUDING BFR. MR. HITCHINGS IS A VERY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL AND HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA103), Jul 19, 1998: Cessna 206 (N7370N), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and inadequate clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors were the downslope winds and downdrafts.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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