# Accident 19990615021659A: Cessna 180A, Chena Hot Sprin, AK, June 15, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 15, 1999, 12:45 local time - Place: Chena Hot Sprin, AK - Airport: Chena Hot Springs Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 65.0588° N, 146.0775° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from the FAA’s distance and direction from , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.0588&lon=-146.0775&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5218D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5218D-2003-08-25) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 180A (registry code 2072604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A - Reported engine: CONT O470K - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 10,375 total, 80 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA077) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990615021659A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON JUNE 15, 1999, ABOUT 1245 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 180A AIRPLANE, N5218D, WAS DESTROYED AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE CHENA HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT, A PRIVATE AIRPORT ABOUT 42 MILES NORTHEAST OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE MCKINLEY NATIONAL PARK AIRPORT, ABOUT 1150. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM FAIRBANKS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE, AND TALKED WITH THE PILOT. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 25. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 85 DEGREES F. THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND BEGAN A GO-AROUND BY STARTING A LEFT TURN. THE PILOT OBSERVED RISING TERRAIN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LEFT TURN AND INITIATED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB ABOVE THE TREES, AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL SPRUCE TREES. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS. THE CHANA HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT HAS A REPORTED ELEVATION OF 1,195 FEET MSL. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN AN OPEN AREA OF ESSENTIALLY FLAT TERRAIN. IT IS SURROUNDED BY RISING, TREE-COVERED HILLS. THE GRAVEL/TURF RUNWAY, ORIENTED 070/250 DEGREES MAGNETIC, IS 2,000 FEET LONG AND 50 FEET WIDE. THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT/FACILITY DIRECTORY STATES, IN PART: "RUNWAY 07, APPROACH IN CREEK VALLEY; RUNWAY MUDDY AND WASHED, 6 TO 12 INCHES DEEP, NOT MAINTAINED." (-23)PILOT OVERSHOT RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 25. TURNED LEFT (CLIMBING) TOWARD RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN THEN RIGHT TO ATTEMPT TO AVOID TERRAIN. AIRCRAFT STRUCK SMALL TREES AND SETTLED INTO TERRAIN. PILOT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH AREA. (.4) ON JUNE 15, 1999, ABOUT 1245 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 180A AIRPLANE, N5218D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE CHENA HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT, A PRIVATE AIRPORT ABOUT 42 MILES NORTHEAST OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE MCKINLEY NATIONAL PARK AIRPORT, ABOUT 1200. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM FAIRBANKS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE, AND TALKED WITH THE PILOT. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 25. THE PILOT BEGAN A GO-AROUND BY STARTING A LEFT TURN. THE PILOT OBSERVED RISING TERRAIN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LEFT TURN, AND INITIATED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB ABOVE THE TREES, AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL SPRUCE TREES. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS. THE PILOT COMPLETED A PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT (NTSB FORM 6120.1/2). IN THE NARRATIVE PORTION OF THE REPORT, 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 CHENA HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT HAS A REPORTED ELEVATION OF 1,195 FEET MSL. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN AN OPEN AREA OF ESSENTIALLY FLAT TERRAIN, ALONG A CREEK DRAINAGE. EXCEPT FOR THE CREEK DRAINAGE, THE AIRPORT IS SURROUNDED BY RISING, TREE-COVERED HILLS. THE GRAVEL/TURF RUNWAY, ORIENTED 070/250 DEGREES MAGNETIC, IS 2,000 FEET LONG AND 50 FEET WIDE. THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT/FACILITY DIRECTORY STATES, IN PART: "RUNWAY 07, APPROACH IN CREEK VALLEY; RUNWAY MUDDY AND WASHED, 6 TO 12 INCHES DEEP; NOT MAINTAINED." ## 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 ANC99LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA077), Jun 15, 1999: Cessna 180A (N5218D), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.