# NTSB ANC12CA042: Beech 1900C, N111AX, McGrath, AK, May 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2012, 15:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: McGrath, AK - Coordinates: 62.951667, -155.604171 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9517&lon=-155.6042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83748/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83748 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's unstable approach and overrotation, which resulted in a tailstrike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a gravel runway. He said that a hill was located in the flight path to the runway, which required a steeper-than-normal approach. The pilot said he misjudged the wind and the rate of descent on final approach. He overrotated in the flare, and the airplane’s tail struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the lower aft fuselage. He said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing a twin turboprop airplane on a gravel runway. A hill lies in the normal glide path to the runway, requiring a steeper than normal approach. The pilot said he misjudged the wind, and the rate of descent on final approach. He over rotated in the flare, and struck the tail, resulting in substantial damage to the lower aft fuselage. He indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111AX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111AX), registered now, S/N UC-81, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C - Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UC-81 - Airframe hours: 60203 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Alaska Central Express Inc. - Registered owner: Alaska Central Express Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 9, 2012 - Departed: PANC, Anchorage, AK - Destination: AK40, McGrath, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AK40, Nixon Fork Mine, runway 34, 4,200 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2012; flight hours: 21,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 295 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 4,100 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 209 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20120524011169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120524011169A), May 24, 2012: Beech 1900C, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. Alaska central express Beech 1900C flying into Nixon Fork Mine had a tail strike on landing, resulting in damage to the ventral fin and belly of the aircraft.… ## Other investigations on N111AX (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 ANC11LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA004), Oct 18, 2010: Beech 1900C (N111AX), Sitka, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A lightning strike which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator. - [NTSB ANC08IA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08IA026), Dec 17, 2007: Beech 1900 (N111AX), Aniak, AK, incident, no damage. Probable cause: A hazardous leak from carbon dioxide cylinders due to the failure of the flight crew to properly load and secure the cylinders, resulting in crew incapacitation. Factors contributing to the incident… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83748. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.