# NTSB ANC82DA029: Curtiss-Wright C-46A, N9852F, Wulik River Str, AK, March 28, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1982, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Wulik River Str, AK
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 28, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73099
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73099/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA029

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WAS A CARGO PLANE BEING UNLOADED AT THE END OF A 4100 FT, SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.  HE ELECTED TO LAND FROM THE OPPOSITE END WITHIN THE FIRST 4000 FT.  THE WIND WAS CALM.  DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A SNOW BERM AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND FAILED. THE PLANE BOUNCED ON THE RUNWAY AND THE LEFT GEAR FOLDED.  THE PLANE THEN SLID ABOUT 1000 FT ON ITS BELLY TO A STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9852F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9852F-1993-08-23), registration cancelled 1993-08-23, S/N 423659 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTISS-WRIGHT C-46A
- Registry model: [Curtiss Wright C-46A](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-c-46a) (registry code 2622602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 423659
- Airframe hours: 19222
- Engines: P & W R-2800 2500 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 125
- Operator: Woods Air Fuel
- Registered owner: James Kelly Foss
- Departed: KOTZEBUE, AK
- Destination: OTZ, WULIK RIVER STR, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 12, Lik Airstrip, runway 27, 4,100 × 75 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,286 total, 538 in this make and model, 1,655 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820328006529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820328006529A), Mar 28, 1982: Curtis C46*, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Undershot approach to snow-covered strip. Landing gear struck snow berm short of threshold. Slid onto runway.

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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