# NTSB ANC03LA011: Douglas DC-3, N32TN, Port Alsworth, AK, November 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2002, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.183334, -154.333328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1833&lon=-154.3333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA011 ## Probable cause The flightcrew's failure to maintain clearance while landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a 25-foot high iron mast. Contributing factors were a downdraft, and a 25-foot high iron mast attached to a tractor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - clearance - not maintained, flightcrew (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis A Douglas DC-3 airplane was landing at a privately owned airstrip. The operator's general manager reported that during a prelanding inspection of the airstrip, both pilots noticed a large tractor parked alongside the approach end of the airstrip, and planned to fly an approach accordingly. As the approach phase of the landing continued, the flight encountered a slight downdraft as the airplane passed over the approach end of airstrip. During the slight descent, just before touchdown, the airplane's left wing struck a 25-foot high iron mast that was attached to the parked tractor, severing about 14 feet of the airplane's outboard left wing. After the collision, the crew was able to complete the landing. Both flight crew members reported that they were unaware the 25-foot high iron mast was attached to the tractor. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2002, about 1310 Alaska Standard Time, a Douglas DC-3 airplane, N32TN, sustained substantial damage when it struck an object while landing at a privately owned airstrip located at Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 1028 by TransNorthern, LLC., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated captain, airline transport certificated first officer, and one passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight-following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, about 1205. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on November 4, the operator's general manager reported that the airplane was being utilized to transport building materials to Port Alsworth. The general manager said that the crew told her that during a prelanding inspection of the Port Alsworth airstrip, both crew members noticed a large tractor that was parked alongside the approach end of the airstrip. She said that the crew planned to fly an approach that would avoid the tractor. She said as the approach phase of the landing continued, the crew encountered a slight downdraft as the airplane passed over the approach end of runway 05L. During the slight descent, just before touchdown, the airplane's left wing struck a 25-foot high iron mast that was attached to the parked tractor. After the collision, the crew was able to complete the landing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that 14 feet of the airplane's left wing was severed from the airplane during the collision. Additionally, the left elevator was damaged. The captain reported to the general manager that he, as well as the first officer, were unaware the 25-foot high iron mast was attached to the tractor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32TN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32TN-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 43301, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Douglas DC-3 - Registry model: [Douglas C-117D](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-c-117d) (registry code 3021481) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 93301 - Airframe hours: 13709.3 - Engines: Wright 1820-80 1475 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Transnorthern Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 22, 2002, 13,655.9 hours before - Departed: ANC, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Port Alsworth, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Port Alsworth, runway 5L, 4,000 × 200 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 49 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 7, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °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 20021103030509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021103030509A), Nov 3, 2002: Doug C117D, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing at Port Alsworth on runway 05 the crew noticed a small bull dozer parked on the overrun, on the approach end of the runway, just off to the… 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.