20150414004219A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 180 · Valdez, AK · April 14, 2015

Date: April 14, 2015 · 18:30 local
Place: Valdez, AK
Airport: Valdez Pioneer Field
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N9247C
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC15FA021
Reported as: Cessna 180
Reported engine: Continental O-470 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,650 total

N9247CRegistration cancelled Apr 18, 2018 · Cessna 180S/N 31346 · Built 1955 Airframe modelCessna 180 Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

April 14, 2015 N9247C, CE-180 was enroute from wasilla (iys) to Valdez (vdz) on an IFR flight plan. The airman was in cruise flight at 10,000' ATC cleared N9247C for the approach into Valdez and was instructed to descend to 8,000'. The airman reported engine trouble after starting the descent. The last reported altitude was five thousand feet. ATC lost the aircraft on radar and then lost communication with airman. The airman proceeded to make a 180 degree turn towards colross island as he descended into IMC conditions. The airplane impacted the water approximately .4 miles from colross island. The coordinates are included in this report. The coast guard launched a search and rescue effort. The following day around 5PM the airmans body and one landing gear from the airplane was found washed up on the shore of colross island. Shortly after the rescue effort was called off. The airplane was not found.

As the FAA filed it

APRIL 14, 2015 N9247C, CE-180 WAS ENROUTE FROM WASILLA (IYS) TO VALDEZ (VDZ) ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRMAN WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 10,000' ATC CLEARED N9247C FOR THE APPROACH INTO VALDEZ AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO DESCEND TO 8,000'. THE AIRMAN REPORTED ENGINE TROUBLE AFTER STARTING THE DESCENT. THE LAST REPORTED ALTITUDE WAS FIVE THOUSAND FEET. ATC LOST THE AIRCRAFT ON RADAR AND THEN LOST COMMUNICATION WITH AIRMAN. THE AIRMAN PROCEEDED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TOWARDS COLROSS ISLAND AS HE DESCENDED INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER APPROXIMATELY .4 MILES FROM COLROSS ISLAND. THE COORDINATES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT. THE COAST GUARD LAUNCHED A SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT. THE FOLLOWING DAY AROUND 5PM THE AIRMANS BODY AND ONE LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF COLROSS ISLAND. SHORTLY AFTER THE RESCUE EFFORT WAS CALLED OFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FOUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC15FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWhittier, AKThe pilot's decision to continue flight into known icing conditions, contrary to the airplane’s limitations, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to icing.Apr 14, 2015 · Substantial damage