# Accident 19991007028439A: Cessna 172, Bethel, AK, October 7, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 7, 1999, 09:40 local time - Place: Bethel, AK - Airport: Bethel Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: HYQA - Location: 60.8102° N, 161.8498° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8102&lon=-161.8498&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4762D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4762D-2016-09-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Reported engine: LYC O320* - People aboard: 4 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 2,020 total, 640 in this make and model, 232 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA005) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991007028439A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON OCTOBER 7, 1999, ABOUT 0940 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPED CESSNA 172 AIRPLANE, N4762D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A FORKLIFT AT THE BETHEL AIRPORT, BETHEL, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING TO THE OPERATOR'S FACILITY AFTER LANDING. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) ON-DEMAND PASSENGER FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO, AND OPERATED BY, VILLAGE AVIATION, INC., ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND THE THREE PASSENGERS ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS IN EFFECT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ATMAUTLUAK AIRSTRIP, ATMAUTLUAK, ALASKA, ABOUT 0925. THE CHIEF PILOT FOR THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD LANDED AND WAS TAXIING TO THE PARKING AREA. HE SAID THAT A FORKLIFT WAS UNLOADING CARGO ON THE RAMP AREA ADJACENT TO THE AIRPLANE'S INTENDED PARKING AREA. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE PARKING AREA, THE FORKLIFT STRUCK THE OUTBOARD END OF THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEADING EDGE, INCLUDING SEVERAL WING RIBS. (-23) ON ABOVE DATE AND TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING TAXIED AROUND THE REAR OF AN AIRCRAFT BEING OFF LOADED BY A FORK LIFT. THE FORK LIFT OPERATOR HAD THE FORK LIFT PILED HIGH WITH PALLETS AND DID NOT SEE THE AIRCRAFT. THE FORK LIFT OPERATOR STRUCK THE OUTBOARD END OF THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT. THIS WAS A CHARTER FLIGHT. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, WITH THREE PASSENGERS ABOARD, WAS TAXIING TO THE OPERATOR'S FACILITY AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT A FORKLIFT WAS UNLOADING CARGO ON THE RAMP AREA ADJACENT TO THE AIRPLANE'S INTENDED PARKING AREA. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE PARKING AREA, THE FORKLIFT STRUCK THE OUTBOARD END OF THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEADING EDGE, INCLUDING SEVERAL WING RIBS. ## 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 ANC00LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA005), Oct 7, 1999: Cessna 172 (N4762D), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the driver of the forklift to maintain an adequate visual outlook. ## Other reports on N4762D (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20000622042459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000622042459A), Jun 22, 2000: Cessna 172N (N4762D), Tuntutuliak, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On June 22, 2000, about 1845 adt, a Cessna 172 aircraft, N4762D, was demolished just after takeoff from the Tuntutuliak Airport in Tuntutuliak, Alaska.… 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.