# NTSB ANC01LA152: de Havilland DHC-2, N5343G, Arctic Village, AK, September 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 2001, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.090278, -145.599761 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0903&lon=-145.5998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53879 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53879/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA152 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot flew a tailwheel-equipped airplane to a remote gravel bar to pick up a friend who was rafting in the area. The area of departure was about 1,000 feet long. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the tailwheel struck a large rock. He continued the takeoff and landed at Coldfoot, Alaska, without incident. A postaccident examination of the tailwheel area revealed damage to the tailwheel casting, and damage to fuselage bulkheads and a stringer near the tailwheel attach point. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2001, about 1200 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 from 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, without incident. A postaccident examination of the tailwheel area on December 4, revealed damage to the tailwheel casting, fuselage bulkheads, and a stringer near the tailwheel attach point. The airplane repair conducted at an FAA approved repair station, included replacement of bulkheads at fuselage stations 228 and 224, and replacement of fuselage skin at stations 228 through 204. Doublers were fabricated and installed at stations 244 through 208. An FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration, was completed by the repair station. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5343G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5343G), registered now, S/N 862, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2800102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 862 - Airframe hours: 9078 - Engines: P&W R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 2001, 41 hours before - Departed: ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK - Destination: CXF, COLDFOOT, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,500 total, 700 in this make and model, 6,350 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010916031959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010916031959A), Sep 16, 2001: Coldfoot, AK, No damage. (-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,… ## Other investigations on N5343G (2) 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 ANC24LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA037), May 28, 2024: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1 (N5343G), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. - [NTSB ANC96LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA164), Sep 24, 1996: de Havilland DHC-2 (N5343G), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove all snow and ice from the airplane prior to takeoff. 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. --- 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.