# NTSB ANC15CA051: Cessna 140, N72784, Homer, AK, July 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2015, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 62.179973, -159.840789 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1800&lon=-159.8408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91598 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91598/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91598 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: N72784 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9967 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joshua M. Mastre - Registered owner: Joshua M. Mastre - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2015 - Departed: Homer, AK - Destination: PASX, Soldotna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 336 total, 206 in this make and model, 312 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20150714024099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150714024099A), Jul 14, 2015: Cessna 140, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91598. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Master.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.