Pilot Debrief

Cessna 182 near Anchorage, AK — 2018-09-27

Final reportANC18LA072
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Date
2018-09-27
Location
Anchorage, AK, USA
Airport
LHD
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Registration
N2571G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence from a crossing heavy airplane.

NTSB narrative

While the accident airplane was inbound for landing, the pilot received traffic and wake turbulence advisories from air traffic control for a crossing heavy Boeing C-17 on approach. The pilot acknowledged that he had the C-17 in sight and elected to execute a 360° turn. After completing the turn, he descended the airplane below the altitude of the C-17, ultimately crossing 3.66 miles behind and about 500 ft below the C-17's flightpath. Shortly after passing behind the C-17, the pilot reported entering an area of "severe turbulence," which he described as "one violent instantaneous motion." The airplane continued for a landing. The pilot reported that, during a postflight inspection of the airplane, he discovered that both wings and the horizontal stabilizer exhibited signs of buckling. Further, the left wing had shifted aft, which reduced the gap between the trailing edge of the flap and the fuselage by 3/8 of an inch. A crack in the left wing spar was discovered during a subsequent, detailed postaccident examination. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicates that pilots should fly at or above the preceding aircraft's flightpath, altering course as necessary, to avoid the area behind and below the generating aircraft.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not query ATC for updates on separation distances and groundspeed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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