# NTSB ANC23LA030: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1, N454FU, Soldotna, AK, April 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 22, 2023, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK · Snow covered gravel runway. - Coordinates: 60.475522, -151.04341 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4755&lon=-151.0434&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 107116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107116/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107116 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in the main landing gear wheels breaking through the snow and the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, to avoid excessive wear on the airplane’s Bushwheels, he decided to not land on the paved runway and instead he landed on the snow-covered gravel runway. During landing, the airplane decelerated rapidly as the main wheels touched down into the snow. The airplane subsequently nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the right-wing lift struts and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N454FU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454FU), registered now, S/N 1193, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 - 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: 1193 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 19126.2 - Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt and Whitney R-985 AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2022, 40.2 hours before - Departed: Polly Creek, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SXQ, Soldotna Airport, runway 25S, 2,300 × 60 ft, snow - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 167.3 total, 42.1 in this make and model, 121.6 as pilot in command, 15.2 in the last 90 days, 9.8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PAEN, 9 nm away - METAR: PAEN 222053Z 24007KT 10SM SCT100 05/M02 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP099 T00501022 56014 ## 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 20230422004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230422004969A), Apr 22, 2023: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to drag his tires on a snow-covered airstrip to see how deep the snow was instead of attempting to land on dry parallel runway in order to save… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107116. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15431139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA030%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15431432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RE_%20N454FU%20accident%20-%20SXQ_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15431241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC23LA030-Rel.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.