Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Talkeetna, AK — 2009-04-17

Final reportANC09LA034
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Date
2009-04-17
Location
Talkeetna, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N46326
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering at a high density altitude.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot said that he was on a personal local flight when he made a low pass about 100 feet over a camp on a glacier, at about 7,200 feet elevation. He made the pass with full flaps, with approximately 65 knots of airspeed. When he retracted the flaps, he said that the airplane descended uncontrolled into the snow, despite the full application of power. The pilot indicated that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during impact.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided retracting flaps during low pass over the glacier.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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