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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 27, 1994 · Cessna 206 · N859A

Bliss, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 27, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Bliss, ID
Aircraft
Cessna 206
Tail Number
N859A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA94LA224

WHILE LANDING INTO THE SETTING SUN ON A 30 FOOT WIDE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING BECAUSE THE SUNGLARE MADE IT HARD TO SEE THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ABORTED LANDING THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. AFTER EXITING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT TERRAIN OF AN ADJACENT POTATO FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE SUNGLARE FROM THE SETTING SUN, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ALONG THE SIDE THE RUNWAY.

Full Narrative

On August 26, 1994, approximately 2000 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 206, N859A, nosed over during a VFR go-around at a private airstrip near Bliss, Idaho. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Smiley Creek Airport, Galena, Idaho, about one-half hour earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, because he was landing almost directly into the setting sun on a 30 foot wide airstrip, he lost sight of the runway during the landing flare. He therefore attempted a go-around while looking into the glare of the setting sun. During the go-around, the aircraft departed the airstrip and nosed over in the soft terrain of a potato field alongside the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:00 MDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airstrip (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length1600 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 206
Tail NumberN859A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-F · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 3 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data