- Date
- September 19, 1986, 17:17 local (Sep 20, 1986, 01:17 UTC)
- Place
- American River, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N83Ude Havilland DHC-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19860919048009A
- Case key
- 4744
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After landing on a 1200 ft gravel bar, the plt paced off the available area, estimated the load to pick up, then loaded the acft. Due to the x-wind, he used less than takeoff flaps. He began taking off, but after lift-off, the acft 'seemed to hit a downdraft.' The plt selected takeoff flaps & began a slight turn to get more room to clear a 20 ft bank of dirt. However, the acft would not clear the bank. After impact, it came to rest on the tundra & the occupants exited the plane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83U
- Reported as
- de Havilland DHC-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 371
- Airframe hours
- 8,154
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Bering Air Service
- Registered owner
- Bering Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 26, 1986 · 37 hours before
- Destination
- Nome, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,240 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 9,239 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 10 °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.