# NTSB ANC09CA093: Aeronca 15AC, N1187H, Kotzebue, AK, September 7, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2009, 18:00 local (Sep 7, 2009, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Coordinates: 68.407501, -161.354446
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.4075&lon=-161.3544&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-01
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74659
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74659/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74659
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA093

## Probable cause

The pilot's delay in aborting the off-airport landing resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal flight which included taking off and landing at an off-airport site. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that when the airplane touched down at the off-airport site, it bounced about 8 feet, and touched down again. He said with maximum braking he did not think he could stop the airplane in the landing area, and he added power to abort the landing. He reported that as the airplane became airborne, he encountered a downdraft, and the airplane collided with terrain. He said he should have aborted the landing sooner. He noted there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.

## Factual narrative

The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal flight which included taking off and landing at an off-airport site. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that when the airplane touched down at the off-airport site, it bounced about 8 feet, and touched down again. He said with maximum braking he did not think he could stop the airplane in the landing area, and he added power to abort the landing. He reported that as the airplane became airborne, he encountered a downdraft, and the airplane collided with terrain. He said he should have aborted the landing sooner. He noted there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1187H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1187H-2011-03-28), registration cancelled 2011-03-28, S/N 15AC-200, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15AC-200
- Airframe hours: 5709
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dixon Charles W
- Registered owner: Dixon Charles W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2009
- Departed: Kotzebue, AK
- Destination: Kotzebue, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F

## 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 20090906048909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090906048909A), Sep 6, 2009: Aeronca 15AC, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was landing uphill at his hunting camp northwest of Kotzebue, a 900 foot strip with about a 20% grade. The aircraft bounced on…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74659. 947 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 947 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.