Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT ENG CORP C-1A near Willow, AK — 2012-10-15

Final reportANC13FA004
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Date
2012-10-15
Location
Willow, AK, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT ENG CORP C-1A
Registration
N27PH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control of the airplane for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not recovered from the accident site.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport-rated pilot was on the first leg of a flight to deliver fuel to a remote mining site. About 30 minutes after departure, a primary radar track, thought to be that of the accident airplane, showed the airplane make a 180-degree turn back toward the point of departure. Two witnesses described hearing the airplane pass overhead, and both said that "the airplane did not sound right." One witness stated that the airplane flew directly overhead of his location under a low ceiling and was going very slow. The airplane was severely damaged by a postimpact fire and explosion. A review of on-scene photographs by an NTSB fire and explosives investigator determined that there was no evidence of an in-flight fire. Analysis of weather in the area around the time of the accident showed that although the ceiling was low, the weather did not play a significant role in the accident. An NTSB on-scene examination of the airframe revealed no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. However, due to the disposition of the wreckage, a detailed examination of the engines could not be accomplished on-scene. The wreckage was not recovered from the accident site. The circumstances leading up to the accident could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to avoid flying in marginal VFR conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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