- Date
- April 6, 1996, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1692MCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960406026459A
- Case key
- 2816
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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
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 pilot stated he encountered low level turbulence during the final approach. He landed on the 'ski strip' and a gust of wind raised the left wing during the landing roll. The airplane veered to the left and the right ski broke off. The airplane continued off the side of the runway and struck a snow berm and nosed over. The pilot estimated the winds to be from 130 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 22 knots. The Fairbanks weather observation facility showed winds were from 160 degrees at 10 knots.
Factual narrative
On April 6, 1996, at 1530 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1692M, registered to the pilot's wife and operated by the pilot, veered left during landing at Fairbanks International Airport, Ski Strip, and nosed over upon hitting a small snow bank. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Harding Lake, Alaska, located approximately 38 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The destination was Fairbanks. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.
According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he said that while on final approach he encountered some low level turbulence. He continued the approach and made a three point landing. During roll out and within 100 feet of the touchdown point a strong gust of wind raised the left wing. The nose veered to the left. The pilot stated he was about to apply power when the right ski broke off. The airplane then hit a snow berm located off the side of the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot estimated the winds to be from 130 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 22 knots. The Fairbanks weather observation facility showed winds were from 160 degrees at 10 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1692M
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18501877
- Airframe hours
- 923
- Engine
- Continental IO-520D, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald J. Hoshaw
- Registered owner
- Susan E. Everts
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 1995 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- Harding Lake, AK
- Destination
- FAI
- Airport
- FAI · Fairbanks International, runway 19, 3,300 × 90 ft, gravel
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 394 total · 304 in this make and model · 394 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.