# Accident 20150714024099A: Cessna 140, Homer, AK, July 14, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2015, 11:00 local time
- Place: Homer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.1800° N, 159.8408° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1800&lon=-159.8408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N72784 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15CA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA051) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150714024099A

## Narrative

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

FINAL NARRATIVE: THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HE NOTICED A BEAR THAT WAS NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO A MOUNTAIN PASS. HE SAID THAT WHILE ORBITING OVER THE BEAR, A STRONG DOWNDRAFT EMANATING FROM THE PASS ENTRANCE CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND TOWARD THE SADDLE OF THE MOUNTAIN PASS. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ARREST THE DESCENT, BUT THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS ULTIMATELY TOUCHED DOWN IN AN AREA OF GRASS-COVERED TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT MAIN WHEEL SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK A LARGE ROCK, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE. THE PILOT SAID THAT JUST AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE ESTIMATED THE SURFACE WIND TO BE FROM 090 TO 140 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS FROM 15 TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATIONS.

## 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 ANC15CA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA051), Jul 14, 2015: Cessna 140 (N72784), Homer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to 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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