- Date
- October 9, 2012, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Buckland, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9575GCessna U206F
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-01
- FAA report
- 20121009024559A
- Case key
- 85304
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of airplane control during final approach in gusty wind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while on final approach to a remote gravel bar adjacent to a river, in gusty and variable wind conditions, the 10-knot headwind subsided just before touchdown, and the airplane descend below the anticipated approach path. He initiated a go-around, but the right wing abruptly dropped, and the right main wheel struck the water, which pivoted the airplane 90 degrees to the right. The airplane’s right wing subsequently struck the surface of the water, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while on final approach to a remote gravel bar adjacent to a river, in gusty and variable wind conditions, the 10 knot headwind subsided just before touchdown, and the airplane descend below his anticipated approach path. He initiated a go-around, but the right wing abruptly dropped, and the right main wheel struck the water, which pivoted the airplane 90 degrees to the right. The airplane’s right wing subsequently struck the surface of the water, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9575G
- Reported as
- Cessna U206F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20601775
- Airframe hours
- 11,846
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Golden Eagle Outfitters, doing business as Golden Eagle Outfitters
- Registered owner
- Golden Eagle Outfitters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 1, 2012
- Departed
- PAOT · Kotzebue, AK
- Destination
- Buckland, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 12, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 290 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9575G · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.