# NTSB ANC86FA037: de Havilland DHC-4A, N539Y, Lime Village, AK, March 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1986, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Lime Village, AK
- Location: 61.3564° N, 155.4356° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lime Village, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3564&lon=-155.4356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4589/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86FA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ON FINAL APPROACH WITH ITS GEAR DOWN THEN THE NOSE PITCHED UP. THE ACFT ROLLED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO TREES. THE ACFT'S COCKPIT, CABIN, ENGINE NACELLES, CARGO AND PORTIONS OF THE WINGS WERE DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE UP AND LOCKED POSITION AND THE FLAPS WERE AT 30 DEGREES. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH A GO-AROUND CONFIGURATION. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE COULDBE DETERMINED. THE ACFT HAD A RESTRICTED CATEGORY AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE CARGO AREA CONTAINED TWO FUEL TANKS ANDASSORTED ITEMS (OIL STOVE, TOOLS, 55 GALLON DRUM AND HOSES).THE PILOT WAS TYPE RATED IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THE RWY LENGTH LISTED IN THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT WAS 1000 FT LONGER THAN THE ACTUAL RWY LENGTH. THE RUNWAY WAS GLAZED WITH ICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N539Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-4A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 197
- Airframe hours: 12159
- Engines: P&W R-2000-7M2 1350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91 subpart F
- Registered owner: Woods Air Fuel Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: PAQ, PALMER, AK
- Destination: 23AK, LIME VILLAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 23AK, Lime Village, runway 27, 1,500 × 75 ft, ice

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,972 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19860320007099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860320007099A), Mar 20, 1986: Dhav DHC4A, Lime Village, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On second try for runway,began go-around. Pitched up,stalled. Crashed and burned. May have had a rearward load shift.

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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