# NTSB ANC05CA124: Taylorcraft F19, N3575T, Chickaloon, AK, August 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2005, 19:00 local (Aug 20, 2005, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.788887, -148.49028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7889&lon=-148.4903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62289/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance and altitude on final approach to land, which resulted in an undershoot and structural damage to the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The solo commercial pilot was approaching to land on a gravel bar adjacent to a river when he noted that his altitude was low, and he added power. He said he then encountered a downdraft, and added full power, but the airplane continued to descend. He said near the ground the uncontrolled descent stopped, but the airplane touched down on rough terrain 200 feet short of the runway. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2005, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a Taylorcraft F19 airplane, N3575T, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain while on approach to land, about 1.5 miles southeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 23, the pilot said he was making an approach to a gravel bar along a river, and made a right turn to line up with the landing area, when he noted that his altitude was low, and he added power. He said the airplane then entered a downdraft, and he added full power, but the airplane continued to descend. The pilot said as the airplane neared the ground it recovered from the uncontrolled descent, but touched down on rough terrain, about 200 feet short of the intended landing area. He said the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the runway. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and lift strut, lower left fuselage, and rudder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3575T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3575T-2006-08-23), registration cancelled 2006-08-23, S/N F-041, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F19 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F19](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f19) (registry code 8850904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-041 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-DZ reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter Rintamaki - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Chickaloon, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 378 total, 214 in this make and model, 86 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050819022519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050819022519A), Aug 19, 2005: Tcraft F19, Coal River, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was making an approach to a gravel bar along a River, and made a slight right turn to get lined up with the intended landing area. He… ## Other investigations on N3575T (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 CHI03LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA255), Aug 4, 2003: Taylorcraft F19 (N3575T), Lakewood, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper use of the fuel system. A related factor was the tree. 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. --- 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.