# Accident 20010916031959A: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Coldfoot, AK, September 16, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2001, 15:00 local time
- Place: Coldfoot, AK
- Airport: Coldfoot Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: CY6C
- Location: 68.0903° N, 145.5998° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0903&lon=-145.5998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5343G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5343G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 (registry code 2800102, https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010916031959A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGE TO THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL HE LANDED IN COLDFOOT ON SEPT 16, 2001, AND INSPECTED THE EXTERIOR OF THE AIRCRAFT. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT NOTICED THE TAIL WHEEL AREA HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.   (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2001, ABOUT 1230 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL-EQUIPPED DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 AIRPLANE, N5343G, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AREA, ABOUT 65 MILES NORTHEAST OF ARCTIC VILLAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO COYOTE AIR LLC., AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT, AND THE ONE PASSENGER, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON DECEMBER 5, 2001, THE PILOT REPORTED HE FLEW TO A REMOTE GRAVEL BAR LOCATED ALONG THE COLEEN RIVER TO PICK UP A FRIEND WHO WAS RAFTING IN THE AREA. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS DEPARTING TOWARD THE NORTH FR OM AN AREA THAT WAS ABOUT 1,000 FEET LONG. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE TAILWHEEL STRUCK A LARGE ROCK. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED AT COLDFOOT, ALASKA. A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE TAILWHEEL AREA ON DECEMBER 5, REVEALED DAMAGE TO A FUSELAGE BULKHEAD AND STRINGERS NEAR THE TAILWHEEL ATTACH POINT.

## 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 ANC01LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA152), Sep 16, 2001: de Havilland DHC-2 (N5343G), Arctic Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. A factor in the accident was rock(s)/boulders in the area of takeoff.

## Other reports on N5343G (2)

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

- [Accident 20240527004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240527004269A), May 27, 2024: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 (N5343G), Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot took off from the airport and reached approximately 300FT. The fuel pressure began to fluctuate so the pilot turned the aircraft back towards the…
- [Accident 19960924029969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960924029969A), Sep 24, 1996: Dhav DHC2MK1 (N5343G), Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated that he landed the airplane on the lake to pick up two hunters. While they were loading the airplane, a snow shower moved in and the…

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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