On July 15, 1986, a Cessna 170B (registration N4649C) was involved in an aviation accident near Blackburn, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the final approach due to fatigue and inattention, which resulted in an undershoot into a river. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot, exhausted after an 18-hour duty day and 8.4 hours of hauling fish, undershot the runway during a low circling approach and crashed into a river.
What happened
The aircraft was executing a low circling approach to land at a nearby gravel bar when it undershot the intended landing area and crashed into a river. The pilot later stated that he had been on duty for approximately 18 hours and had flown 8.4 hours that day while hauling fish. He admitted to being tired and "playing around" during the flight. The aircraft sank in water estimated to be 25 to 30 feet deep and was not recovered.
Findings
The pilot's fatigue, resulting from a long duty day and extended flight time, likely contributed to the accident. His admission of "playing around" suggests a lack of focus on the critical phase of landing.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during the final approach due to fatigue and inattention, which resulted in an undershoot into a river.