# NTSB ANC85FA054: de Havilland DHC-6-300, N540N, Barter Island, AK, March 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1985, 00:15 local (04:15 UTC)
- Place: Barter Island, AK
- Location: 70.1181° N, 143.6667° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barter Island, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.1181&lon=-143.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4400
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4400/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA054

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - flight manuals - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - expectancy, other person (contributing factor)
  - insuff standards/requirements,operation/operator, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), copilot/second pilot
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACFT CRASHED DURING MISSED APCH TO TEMPORARY WINTER LANDING STRIP. ACFT HIT IN STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS PREVAILED, WITH ICING REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N540N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N540N-2011-08-04), registration cancelled 2011-08-04, S/N 401, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6-300
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A-27-28](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-27-28) (registry code 61504, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401
- Airframe hours: 13652
- Engines: P&W PT6-27 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Sea Alaska Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 5, 1985, 47 hours before
- Departed: SCC, DEADHORSE, AK
- Airport: Strip 1186, runway 7, 1,400 × 75 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,311 total, 2,098 in this make and model, 4,604 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 30 °F

## 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 19850312006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850312006599A), Mar 12, 1985: Dhav DHC6TWNOTTER, Barter Island, AK, Substantial damage. The plane hit the ground during a go around. Deicing equipment not used. Pilot was operating in IFR conditions.

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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