- Date
- July 2, 2017, 20:30 local (Jul 3, 2017, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dixie, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N368HYAviat A 1
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170702008799A
- Case key
- 95616
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 failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to landing with sun glare and downdraft conditions, which resulted in the airplane landing in a ravine short of the runway.
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 that, while on short final approach to a back-country airstrip and approaching into a setting sun glare, the airplane encountered a downdraft. He added that he increased power and pitched up slowly, but the "sun came lower" and blocked his vision to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed short of the runway in a ravine that was about 20 ft lower than the runway. The fuselage, wings, and elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while on short final approach to a back-country airstrip, approaching into a setting sun glare, he encountered a downdraft. He added that he increased power and pitched up slowly, but the "sun came lower" and blocked his vision to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed short of the runway in a ravine that was about 20 ft. lower than the runway. The fuselage, wings, and elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N368HY
- Reported as
- Aviat A 1 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2363
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 1,234.53
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 3, 2016
- Departed
- MYL · Mc Call, ID
- Destination
- A05 · Dixie, ID
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display
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
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 6, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,726 total · 880 in this make and model · 2,332 as pilot in command · 30.2 in the last 90 days · 15.8 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KGIC, 30 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 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.