# NTSB ANC08CA065: de Havilland DHC-3, N565TA, Talkeetna, AK, April 28, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 28, 2008, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.75, -151.833328
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7500&lon=-151.8333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68340
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68340/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA065

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in an overload failure of the tail ski assembly during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot related that he was transporting mountain climbers to a remote mountain glacier, and was landing the wheel-ski-equipped airplane in deep snow. During the landing roll, he said he felt a slight bump, and stopped the airplane. Inspection disclosed that the tail ski had become buried in deep snow during a turn, breaking the tail ski attachment bracket, which resulted in the ski puncturing the lower fuselage and damaging a structural bulkhead. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot related he was transporting mountain climbers to a remote mountain glacier, and was landing the wheel-ski equipped airplane in deep snow. During the landing roll, he said he felt a slight bump, and stopped the airplane. Inspection disclosed that the tail ski had become buried in deep snow during a turn, breaking the tail ski attachment bracket, which resulted in the ski puncturing the lower fuselage and damaging a structural bulkhead. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N565TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N565TA), registered now, S/N 46, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-3
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2802412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47
- Engines: Garrett TPE-331 turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc
- Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TKA, Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 9,700 total, 565 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 100 statute miles

## 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 20080428836009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080428836009A), Apr 28, 2008: Dhav DHC3, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed a ski-equipped DHC-3 otter in 4 feet of new snow on a glacier landing strip. During left hand taxiing turn the tail ski dropped into 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.

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