Gold King Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
Monday, February 28, 2005 11:45 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot was conducting an on-demand cargo flight to a remote airstrip. On final approach to land, he noticed he was too low, and initiated a go around, but the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees at the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delay in performing a go-around, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Fairbanks
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99709
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 642100N
Event Location Longitude 1475600W
Event Location Airport Gold King Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AK47
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18172
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Anchorage, FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6465V
NTSB Number ANC05LA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Helio
Aircraft Model H-295
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1417
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 23 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 88
Airframe Hours 9246
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WRIGHT AIR SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 60142
Aircraft Owner City Fairbanks
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99706
Operator is an individual? No
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 HYTA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FAI
Departure City Fairbanks
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AK32
Destination City Gold King
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2005 12:00PM
User who most recently changed record JOHC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 060
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --