Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coldfoot, Alaska 99701
Friday, August 4, 1995 19:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE FLYING NORTHBOUND THROUGH A REMOTE MOUNTAIN PASS TOWARD RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN. THEY WERE FOLLOWING A ROADWAY THAT PARALLELED THE TRANS-ALASKAN PIPELINE. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY A STATE TROOPER AND A LOCAL RESIDENT THAT FLIGHT THROUGH THE PASS WAS NOT ADVISED. THEY SUGGESTED AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OVER THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS OBSERVED BURNING ADJACENT TO THE ROADWAY ABOUT 4,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE PASS WERE REPORTED AS ABOUT 1,000 FEET OVERCAST, 15 TO 20 KNOTS OF WIND FROM THE NORTH, WITH ISOLATED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE AND/OR ALTITUDE FROM TERRAIN. RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND DOWNDRAFTS ASSOCIATED WITH UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone --
Event City COLDFOOT
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99701
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 243
Weather Observation Facility ID AKP
Elevation of weather observation facility 2110
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1203
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1944
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2566V
NTSB Number ANC95FA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 170
Aircraft Series Identifier 170
Aircraft Serial Number 18071
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY L. STEPHENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3250 TONGAS BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City JUNEAU
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99803
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CXF
Departure City
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HAPPY VALLEY
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --