ANC14CA076

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna U206B · Gustavus, AK · September 6, 2014

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 6, 2014, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Gustavus, AK
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3862GCessna U206B
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 5, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20140906018019A
Case key
90049

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 motor vehicles operators' lack of attention, and improper decision to cross the runway with the runway alert system active, resulting in a collision with the airplane.

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 was landing at a private airport that is used to support fish cannery operations. A road runs parallel to the runway with multiple intersections where motor vehicles cross the runway. The airport is equipped with a pre-landing alert system to warn ground personnel that an aircraft is approaching. The pilot keys the aircraft radios push to talk switch multiple times, which activates a series of flashing lights and horns. The pilot reported that before landing he activated the pre-landing alert system, and proceeded to land to the North. After touchdown, but during the landing rollout, at approximately 30 miles per hour, a truck entered the runway and struck the left side of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if the cannery provided initial and recurrent training for all employees on runway safety and aircraft operations. In addition, the pilot recommended better signage be incorporated at all runway intersection crossings, and brush and trees be cleared from the vicinity of the runway thereby increasing visibility.

Factual narrative

The pilot was landing at a private airport that is used to support fish cannery operations. A road runs parallel to the runway with multiple intersections where motor vehicles cross the runway. The airport is equipped with a pre-landing alert system to warn ground personnel that an aircraft is approaching. The pilot keys the aircraft radios push to talk switch multiple times, which activates a series of flashing lights and horns. The pilot reported that before landing he activated the pre-landing alert system, and proceeded to land to the North. After touchdown, but during the landing rollout, at approximately 30 miles per hour, a truck entered the runway and struck the left side of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if the cannery provided initial and recurrent training for all employees on runway safety and aircraft operations. In addition, the pilot recommended better signage be incorporated at all runway intersection crossings, and brush and trees be cleared from the vicinity of the runway thereby increasing visibility.

Aircraft

Registration
N3862G
Reported as
Cessna U206B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U206-0862
Built
1967
Airframe hours
8,138
Engine
Continental IO-520F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Fjord Flying Service
Registered owner
Glacial Aviation LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 3, 2014
Departed
PAGS · Gustavus, AK
Destination
EXI · Gustavus, AK
Airport
EXI · Excursion Inlet, runway SE, 3,500 × 100 ft, gravel
Equipment
Stall warning system

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
27
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 10, 2014
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
3,077 total · 256 in this make and model · 2,051 as pilot in command · 256 in the last 90 days · 107 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,000 ft overcast
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.88 inHg
Observed at
PAGS, 8 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 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.