What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 24 may 2022, DHC-3T N703TH departed Yakutat AK with cargo and 3 passengers.
Pilot noted need for more forward trim on takeoff. Enroute pilot noted tail seemed to go slightly up and down.
He stated, 'upon arrival at dry bay, entered left downwind runway 23 at 600FT. Reduced power on downwind to slow aircraft to proper flap extension speed. Abeam the end of runway extended flaps to 10 degrees, turned left base approximately 1/2 mile from end of runway. Trimmed and pitched back to obtain 80 mph. Turned final approach, noticed aircraft seemed to pitch up, so trimmed all the way forward and reduced some power. Added another 10 degrees flaps. On short final, added full flaps. At that moment, the aircraft pitched up violently to approximately 45 angle. (He) applied full down elevator, verified trim and reduced power to idle. Aircraft stalled at approximately 300 ft. after stalling, the aircraft broke slightly left, and went into a 45 degree dive. (He) let it build up speed and applied full elevator back.'
Aircraft impacted trees at high rate of speed and broke both wings off and in half. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. All occupied seats broke away from attachment points, all sustained serious injury.
As the FAA filed it
ON 24 MAY 2022, DHC-3T N703TH DEPARTED YAKUTAT AK WITH CARGO AND 3 PASSENGERS.
PILOT NOTED NEED FOR MORE FORWARD TRIM ON TAKEOFF. ENROUTE PILOT NOTED TAIL SEEMED TO GO SLIGHTLY UP AND DOWN.
HE STATED, 'UPON ARRIVAL AT DRY BAY, ENTERED LEFT DOWNWIND RUNWAY 23 AT 600FT. REDUCED POWER ON DOWNWIND TO SLOW AIRCRAFT TO PROPER FLAP EXTENSION SPEED. ABEAM THE END OF RUNWAY EXTENDED FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES, TURNED LEFT BASE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM END OF RUNWAY. TRIMMED AND PITCHED BACK TO OBTAIN 80 MPH. TURNED FINAL APPROACH, NOTICED AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO PITCH UP, SO TRIMMED ALL THE WAY FORWARD AND REDUCED SOME POWER. ADDED ANOTHER 10 DEGREES FLAPS. ON SHORT FINAL, ADDED FULL FLAPS. AT THAT MOMENT, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP VIOLENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 45 ANGLE. (HE) APPLIED FULL DOWN ELEVATOR, VERIFIED TRIM AND REDUCED POWER TO IDLE. AIRCRAFT STALLED AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FT. AFTER STALLING, THE AIRCRAFT BROKE SLIGHTLY LEFT, AND WENT INTO A 45 DEGREE DIVE. (HE) LET IT BUILD UP SPEED AND APPLIED FULL ELEVATOR BACK.'
AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND BROKE BOTH WINGS OFF AND IN HALF. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ALL OCCUPIED SEATS BROKE AWAY FROM ATTACHMENT POINTS, ALL SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.