Narrative:
The DHC-3 airplane, N3125N, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a remote airstrip, north-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The occupants were not injured. The pilot was transporting building supplies and workers to the area. The airstrip, known as Daniels Strip, is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. The pilot said on the third landing of the day, he touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees.
Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsafe/hazardous area for landing. Factors in the accident were the presence of a tail wind, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and a narrow airstrip.
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 27 April 1999 |
| Time: | 13:15 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter |
| Operator: | 40-Mile Air |
| Registration: | N3125N |
| MSN: | 394 |
| First flight: | 1960 |
| Engines: | 1 Shvetsov ASh-62IR-M18 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | 21 km (13.1 mls) NNE of Healy, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Fairbanks International Airport, AK (FAI/PAFA), United States of America |
| ? |
The DHC-3 airplane, N3125N, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a remote airstrip, north-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The occupants were not injured. The pilot was transporting building supplies and workers to the area. The airstrip, known as Daniels Strip, is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. The pilot said on the third landing of the day, he touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees.
Probable Cause:
Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsafe/hazardous area for landing. Factors in the accident were the presence of a tail wind, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and a narrow airstrip.
Accident investigation:
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Classification:
Runway mishap
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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