# NTSB ANC77FA067: Dehavilland DHC-3, N48064, Bettles, AK, August 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1977
- Place: Bettles, AK · BETTLES, AK
- Location: 66.9073° N, 151.5381° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bettles, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9073&lon=-151.5381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC77FA067
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77FA067

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3614   77/8/4  NR.BETTLES,AK         DEHAVILLAND DHC-3   CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 5000
        TIME - 1905                    N48064              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 1500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALATNA RIVER,AK             BETTLES,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - LOOSE GRAVEL
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          SMOKE                                                     70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TKOF FRM RVR GRAVEL BAR TOWARD BEND IN RIVER.TREES,STEEP RVR BANK AT BEND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48064](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48064-1978-02-03), registration cancelled 1978-02-03, S/N 278 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-3
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2802412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19770804037759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770804037759A), Aug 4, 1977: Amtr 2802411, Bettles, AK, Destroyed. Tkof frm RVR gravel bar toward bend in river. Trees,steep RVR bank at bend.

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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