Cantwell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cantwell, Alaska 99729
Monday, January 2, 1989 15:12 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY AT CANTWELL, AK. THE WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DEEP SNOW DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 49.2 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND WAS PROHIBITED FROM CARRYING PASSENGERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/2/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1512
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City CANTWELL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99729
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CANTWELL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Z68
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2190
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38257
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5134T
NTSB Number ANC89LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 75
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 3491
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER, BRADLEY E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 W HERITAGE #2
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99687
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRADLEY E. MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 150 W HERITAGE APT 2
Operator City WASILLA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99687
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 No
Departure Airport Code MRI
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code Z68
Destination City CANTWELL
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --