No fatalities

Airplane Flips After Striking Fence During Windy Approach

Gold Beach, OR, United States

On February 8, 2016, a CESSNA 175 A operated by Daniel R. Harrison was involved in an aviation accident near Gold Beach, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain an approach angle of descent to avoid obstacles, resulting in the airplane striking the airport perimeter fence. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane struck a perimeter fence with its landing gear during approach, flipped over, and sustained substantial damage to wings, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies.

Accident Overview

During approach to an airport, an airplane encountered a wind gust, causing the landing gear to strike the top of the airport's perimeter fence. The impact caused the airplane to flip over and slide to a stop. According to the airport facility directory, the fence was located more than 200 feet from the approach end of the runway, which measured 3,237 feet in length.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage. Specifically, both wings, the rudder, and the vertical stabilizer were damaged in the accident.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

Weather and Wind Information

According to the pilot's account, the airplane encountered a wind gust during the approach. The airport did not have any wind reporting facilities.

Conclusion

The accident sequence began when the airplane's landing gear contacted the fence during approach in gusty wind conditions. The airplane subsequently flipped over and came to rest. The pilot noted no preexisting mechanical issues with the aircraft.

Contributing factors

Causes

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Feb 2016 CESSNA 175 A accident near Gold Beach, OR?

An airplane struck a perimeter fence with its landing gear during approach, flipped over, and sustained substantial damage to wings, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Feb 2016 CESSNA 175 A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Feb 2016 involved a CESSNA 175 A, operated by Daniel R. Harrison, at Gold Beach, OR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain an approach angle of descent to avoid obstacles, resulting in the airplane striking the airport perimeter fence.