# NTSB ANC98LA154: Cessna 182D, N8874X, Fort Yukon, AK, September 19, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1998, 16:30 local (Sep 19, 1998, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Yukon, AK
- Coordinates: 66.56018, -145.250854 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5602&lon=-145.2509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 44014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA154

## Probable cause

A failure of the pilot to maintain the proper glidepath to the landing touch down spot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The certificated private pilot had been taking off and landing along a remote gravel bar in a wheel equipped airplane. He was supporting friends who were floating down a river.  On the accident flight, the pilot was landing toward the south.  The wind was from the south about 5 knots.  The pilot said that the wind speed decreased to zero, and the airplane touched down in the water, about 20 feet short of his intended landing area.  The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the fuselage, wings, and the left wing lift strut.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1998, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 182D airplane, N8874X, sustained substantial damage while landing on a remote gravel bar, about 75 miles northeast of Fort Yukon, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant,  was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 19, 1998, at 0600, the pilot reported he had been taking off and landing along the Coleen River, in support of friends who were floating down the river.  On the accident flight, the pilot was landing toward the south.  The wind was from the south about 5 knots.  The pilot said that the wind speed decreased to zero, and the airplane touched down in the water, about 20 feet short of his intended landing area.  The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the fuselage, wings, and the left wing lift strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8874X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8874X-2003-10-29), registration cancelled 2003-10-29, S/N 18253274, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182D
- Registry model: [Cessna 182D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (registry code 2072710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18253274
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James F. Schaff
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1998

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 95 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19980918025559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980918025559A), Sep 18, 1998: Cessna 182D, Fort Yukon, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage. (-23) the pilot was attempting to perform an off-airport landing to a river gravel bar. On short…

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.

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