Taylorcraft F19 accident near Goose Bay, Alaska, June 25, 2018
On June 25, 2018 at about 8:30 am local time, a 1975 Taylorcraft F19, registered N3570T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Goose Bay, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach path during landing in dusky, flat light conditions, which resulted in a tree strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2018 · about 8:30 am local time
- Place
- Goose Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft F19 No Series, built 1975
- Registration
- N3570T · no longer on the register · serial F-031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a flight at dusk with high, gray overcast clouds, he circled over a lake and began the approach to land. He added that his depth perception was off, he misjudged the approach, and the airplane struck a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 6 miles northwest of the accident site reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was calm, scattered clouds at 4,100 ft, and overcast clouds at 6,000 ft.
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 approach
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,952 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 275 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 16, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,102 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 1,082 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from PAAQ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 1, 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 |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.