Summary
On February 19, 2017, a Cessna A185 (N185AE) was involved in an incident near Fairbanks, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system.
The pilot reported that during the first landing of a currency flight, he "never realized he was low on the approach" and impacted a snow covered area short of the asphalt runway and nosed over. He added that the flight was conducted in "reduced light conditions" and he "did not recognize the conditions as being flat light."
The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Weather Service recorded a sunset time about 25 minutes after the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement stated in part that the landing runway was equipped with a precision approach path indicator (PAPI).
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA147. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N185AE.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the first landing of a currency flight, he "never realized he was low on the approach" and impacted a snow covered area short of the asphalt runway and nosed over. He added that the flight was conducted in "reduced light conditions" and he "did not recognize the conditions as being flat light."
The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Weather Service recorded a sunset time about 25 minutes after the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement stated in part that the landing runway was equipped with a precision approach path indicator (PAPI).
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA147