# NTSB ANC08CA034: de Havilland DHC-2, N323KT, McGrath, AK, February 5, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 5, 2008, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: McGrath, AK - Coordinates: 62.293334, -153.361938 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2933&lon=-153.3619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67472/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote, snow-covered airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross-country positioning flight in a wheel-ski equipped airplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, he aborted the takeoff because of soft snow conditions. As the airplane slowed, it drifted to the right, and the right wing struck a tree. From the cockpit, the pilot said he saw what appeared to be minor scuffing on the right wingtip. The pilot then took off in the opposite direction, and landed at his destination. Inspection of the airplane by maintenance personnel revealed denting of the leading edge of the right wing, denting along the underside of the right wing, and a tear in the underside of the right wing aileron. ## Factual narrative The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote, snow-covered airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross-country positioning flight in a wheel-ski equipped airplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, he aborted the takeoff because of soft snow conditions. As the airplane slowed, it drifted to the right, and the right wing struck a tree. From the cockpit, the pilot said he saw what appeared to be minor scuffing on the right wingtip. The pilot then departed the opposite direction on the airstrip, and landed at his destination. Inspection of the airplane by maintenance personnel revealed denting of the leading edge of the right wing, denting along the underside of the right wing, and a tear in the underside of the right wing aileron. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N323KT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323KT-2019-03-18), registration cancelled 2019-03-18, S/N 1022, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (registry code 2808002) (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: 1022 - Engines: P & W R-985 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Rust's Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: Rust Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 8KA, McGrath, AK - Destination: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 8KA, Tatitna Airstrip, runway 09 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 3,098 total, 422 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080205009969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080205009969A), Feb 5, 2008: Dhav DHC2MK1, Tatitna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During interview with the pilot on 02/06/08, he indicated that he was at the 8KA Tatitna, AK rohn roadhouse. Before take off he walked off the runway to… ## Other investigations on N323KT (3) 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 ANC18FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA063), Aug 5, 2018: De Havilland DHC-2 (N323KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: Impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered due to the inaccessible nature of the accident site. - [NTSB ANC12CA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA041), May 22, 2012: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (N323KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently landed with the parking brake set. - [NTSB ANC08CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA066), May 11, 2008: de Havilland DHC-2 (N323KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent activation of the main landing gear brakes during the recovery from a bounced landing. 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.