Pilot Debrief

ICP Savannah near Fairfield, UT — 2018-08-05

Final reportWPR18TA212
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Date
2018-08-05
Location
Fairfield, UT, USA
Airport
UT99
Aircraft
ICP Savannah
Registration
N951RA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after encountering a downdraft on approach to the runway.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight and had maneuvered the airplane onto the base leg of the traffic pattern for his destination airport. He stated that the airplane likely encountered a downdraft and experienced a loss of lift. Despite his attempts to arrest the descent by adding full throttle, the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. The pilot thought that the accident may have been prevented if he had configured the airplane to land in a steeper and higher approach, combined with more airspeed. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have configured for a steeper and higher approach with more airspeed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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