Curtiss Wright C46 accident near Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, July 16, 2018
On July 16, 2018 at about 5:25 pm local time, a 1945 Curtiss Wright C46, registered N1822M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Manley Hot Springs, Alaska (Manley Hot Springs airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown speed and his decision to land with a tailwind without ensuring that there was adequate runway length for the touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2018 · about 5:25 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Manley Hot Springs, Alaska · Manley Hot Springs · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss Wright C46 UNDESIGNAT, built 1945 · all C46s on the register
- Registration
- N1822M · registry record · serial 22521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, following a precautionary shutdown of the No. 2 engine, he diverted to an alternate airport that was closer than the original destination. During the landing in tailwind conditions, the airplane touched down "a little fast." The pilot added that, as the brakes faded from continuous use, the airplane was unable to stop, and it overran the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 135 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 17, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,049.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 5, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 48,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney R2800-51M1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney R2800-51M1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Everts Air Fuel Inc
The flight
- Departed from: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Destination: PAEN Kenai AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 3, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | PIC Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Fo Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1822M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1822M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Curtiss Wright C-46 8 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Curtiss Wright 229 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R2800-51M1 173 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R2800-51M1 173 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Manley Hot Springs Airport · nearest airport
- Fairbanks International · departed from
- Kenai Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N1822M 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC18CA054.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.