Cessna 180C, N9203T: Accident occurred July 03, 2016 in Nome, Alaska

http://registry.faa.gov/N9203T

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Fairbanks FSDO-01

NTSB Identification: ANC16CA040
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 03, 2016 in Nome, AK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/12/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 180, registration: N9203T
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot stated that while landing on a gravel surfaced runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a downdraft was encountered, which forced the airplane to the ground prematurely. The airplane subsequently impacted an estimated 38-inch-high metal barricade that was located about 90 feet from the runway threshold resulting in substantial damage to the right wing lift strut

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

The airport manager stated that the metal barricade sections were erected each summer season to prevent All-Terrain Vehicles from using the runway, thus mitigating runway incursions.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway and impacting a barricade. Contributing to the accident was the airport manager's improper placement and marking of a metal barricade that encroached on the runway safety area.