# Incident 19940731020009I: Arctic S1B2, Farwell, AK, July 31, 1994

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 1994, 17:30 local time
- Place: Farwell, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N55AD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55AD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Arctic S-1B2 (registry code 0790208, https://openairdocs.org/model/arctic-s-1b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARCTIC S1B2
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 250 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940731020009I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: ON 7-31-94, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 P.M. AKDT, PRIVATE PILOT JAMES L. FERGUSON WAS LANDING HIS ARCTIC TERN, N55AD, ON AN UNIMPROVED LANDING AREA ON THE POST RIVER, (PTARMIGAN PASS) LOCATED 10 NM SOUTHEAST OF FARWELL, AK WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A 4 FT. KNOLL CAUSING THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT ALSO INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER AND TRAILING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING. NEITHER OF THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTES THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT TO HIS LACK OF PROFICIENCY DUE TO NOT ENOUGH PRACTICE HOURS FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS PREVAILING AT THE TIME.

## Other reports on N55AD (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040422006389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040422006389A), Apr 22, 2004: Arctic S1B2 (N55AD), Willow, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) First instructional flight for student pilot. During simulated engine failure recovery, engine failed to respond. No suitable landing area available…
- [Accident 19900525018259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900525018259A), May 25, 1990: Arctic S1B2 (N55AD), Beluga River, AK, Substantial damage. Landing on a sandbar wheel hit a soft spot. Aircraft nosed over. Bent lift struts.
- [Accident 19880823037769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880823037769A), Aug 23, 1988: Arctic S1B2 (N55AD), Hartman River, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled aircraft during a climbing turnout after takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.