# Accident 19990807011669A: Cessna A188B, Bettles, AK, August 7, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 1999, 23:00 local time
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.2401° N, 152.2710° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2401&lon=-152.2710&mi=10
- Aircraft: N731UW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731UW-2015-05-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A188B (registry code 2073005, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990807011669A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED ON LANDING AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23)ON AUGUST 7, 1999 A TAILWHEEL CESSNA A-188B, N731UW SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT A REMOTE GRAVEL STRIP APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES NORTH OF BETTLES, ALASKA.  THE PILOT WAS GOING TO REPAIR THE AIRSTRIPS SOFT AREAS.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN TIRE ENTERED THE SOFT AREA.  THE AIRPLANE GOURND LOOPED TO THE LEFT AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING.  RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND RIGHT ELEVATOR.                         (.4) THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS LANDING AT A REMOTE MINING AIRSTRIP TO REPAIR AN AREA OF SOFT GROUND ON THE STRIP.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT RAIN WAS FALLING AT THE TIME.  THE AIRSTRIP IS ABOUT 1,000 FEET LONG, AND 50 FEET WIDE, AT AN ELEVATION OF 1,120 FEET MSL.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT MAIN TIRE ENTERED THE AREA OF SOFT GROUND.  THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT, AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND THE RIGHT ELEVATOR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC99LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA109), Aug 8, 1999: Cessna A188-B (N731UW), Bettles, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor was soft terrain.

## Other reports on N731UW (1)

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

- [Incident 19890525027149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890525027149I), May 25, 1989: Cessna A188B (N731UW), Cairo, GA, Minor damage. Engine lost power on spray run. Forced landing. Aircraft flipped over. Water in fuel line. Fuel nozzle plugged.

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.

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