Cessna U206 near Willow, AK — 2018-09-09
- Date
- 2018-09-09
- Location
- Willow, AK, USA
- Airport
- UUO
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206
- Registration
- N8070Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Fatalities
- 0
- Phase of flight
- Climb
Probable cause
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain control during a night landing pattern crosswind turn due to spatial disorientation and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with terrain.
NTSB narrative
A flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction departed on a night training flight. The pilot had recently obtained her private pilot certificate without night training time under a regulatory exception for Alaska pilots. The accident flight was her first night flight. After performing one night landing and takeoff at the accident airport, the pilot receiving instruction performed a right turn to the crosswind leg at pattern altitude. The instructor, who was in the right seat, then exclaimed "what is up with your attitude?" The instructor took control of the airplane after he realized that the airplane was descending and the pilot receiving instruction was disoriented; however, the airplane impacted terrain shortly after. Both pilots stated that it was a dark, moonless night with no visible horizon in the vicinity of the remote airport. The pilot receiving instruction reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Analysis
- Primary failure mode
- Spatial disorientation
- First missed decision gate
- Pilot should have avoided turning into dark area without visible horizon.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- Photos
- 5 docket documents