Aircraft collision with terrain during low-altitude flight

No fatalities • Dillingham, United States of America • Flight

An aircraft struck a hillside twice during a period of low visibility, resulting in a nosed-over accident after the pilot attempted to avoid terrain.

What happened

During the flight, the pilot momentarily diverted his attention from the controls to retrieve a fire extinguisher from the floor area and return it to its bracket beneath the seat. Upon regaining visual contact with the external environment, the pilot observed a hill directly in the flight path. In an attempt to clear the obstacle, the pilot applied full power and pulled back on the yoke, which caused the aircraft to impact the hillside.

Following the initial impact, the aircraft remained airborne and entered a cloud layer. While flying through the clouds, the pilot realized the aircraft was approaching a stall condition. To prevent the loss of airspeed, the pilot lowered the nose of the aircraft. This maneuver resulted in a second impact with the same hillside, which ultimately caused the aircraft to nose over.

Probable cause

The pilot's momentary distraction and subsequent improper flight maneuvers led to repeated collisions with terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-07-20 Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair accident near Dillingham, United States of America?

An aircraft struck a hillside twice during a period of low visibility, resulting in a nosed-over accident after the pilot attempted to avoid terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 1992-07-20 Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-07-20 involved a Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair, registration N9975M, operated by MarkAir Express, at Dillingham, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's momentary distraction and subsequent improper flight maneuvers led to repeated collisions with terrain.

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