- Date
- July 13, 2023, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Matanuska Glacier, AK · "A gravel Super Cub airstrip exists about ¼ mile from the hut. It is a one-way only landing and take-off and requires tundra tires but it is in an excellent shape. From the strip head uphill on the tundra benches for 700 feet to find the hut. In winter a landing can be made on Scandinavian Glacier on skis, 5 minute ski form the hut." (mtnclubak.org)
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N460JCAviat A-1B
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20230713010959A
- Case key
- 192639
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 airplane’s encounter with downdrafts resulting in decreased performance insufficient to outclimb rising terrain.
Findings · 4
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 he encountered downdrafts during landing on a remote gravel airstrip near a glacial base camp known for downdrafts and mountain rotors. He elected to depart the airstrip into rising terrain due to more favorable winds. During initial climb out the pilot reported the airplane encountered more downdrafts than expected. Unable to outclimb rising terrain, the pilot performed a forced landing in an area of rough, rock-covered terrain, and during landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N460JC
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2343
- Built
- 2006
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PAMR · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- PAMR · Anchorage, AK
- Airport
- Scandinavian Peaks Hut Airstrip
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS
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
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Military, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 10,020 total · 898 in this make and model · 3,266 as pilot in command · 261 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 46 nm away
- METAR
- PAAQ 132253Z 11005KT 10SM FEW035 SCT075 23/13 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T02280133
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.0 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.