- Date
- September 8, 1995, 21:00 local (Sep 9, 1995, 05:00 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N89138Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950908028289A
- Case key
- 2735
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
failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain during a low pass over a prospective (off-airport) landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: the 'flat' lighting condition, and uneven terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated private pilot and a passenger were scouting prospective landing areas in remote and rough terrain. The pilot began a low pass over an area of gravel to assess its suitability for landing. The area was about 1,500 feet long at 350 feet msl. Flat light conditions prevailed in the area. On the second low pass over the gravel area, the pilot added power to maintain about 10 feet above the ground. During the low pass, the airplane descended into terrain that was rising slightly. The right main gear struck a small ridge of gravel, damaging the landing gear, right wing and propeller.
Factual narrative
On September 8, 1995, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140, N89138, crashed while maneuvering in a remote area about 42 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to a friend of the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Big Lake airport, Big Lake, Alaska at 1857.
The pilot reported that after departure from Big Lake, he landed in Palmer, Alaska, for fuel and to pick up his passenger. He then departed for Upper Lake George, located in rugged terrain in the Chugach Mountains, at 1956. The pilot located a prospective landing area and began a low pass over an area of gravel to assess its suitability for landing. The area was about 1,500 feet long at 350 feet mean sea level (MSL). Due to overcast skies and the time of day (sunset), flat light conditions prevailed in the area. On the second low pass over the gravel area in a southerly direction, the pilot added power to maintain about 10 feet above the ground. During the low pass, the airplane descended into terrain that was rising slightly. The right main gear struck a small ridge of gravel, damaging the landing gear, right wing and propeller. The airplane did not nose over. The flight was reported overdue and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued. Search personnel located the crash site on September 9, 1995, about 0113.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89138
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8146
- Airframe hours
- 4,492
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Damon V. Austring
- Registered owner
- Brian Shanders
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 1995 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- PAQ · Palmer, AK
- Flight plan
- 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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 351 total · 346 in this make and model · 317 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.