# NTSB ANC88LA066: De Havilland DHC-3, N3125N, Eagle, AK, June 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 1, 1988, 16:50 local (Jun 2, 1988, 00:50 UTC)
- Place: Eagle, AK
- Coordinates: 64.429496, -141.21965 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.4295&lon=-141.2197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5010/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA066

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND A HEAVILY LOADED DE HAVILLAND OTTER (DHC-3) ON A GRAVEL STRIP IN RURAL ALASKA. UPON TOUCHDOWN,  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE VEERED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. HE UNLOCKED THE TAIL WHEEL CENTERING DEVICE AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT TO THE LEFT (INTO THE PREVAILING CROSSWIND). THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT OUT OF CONTROL AND DOWN A 30-45 DEGREE EMBANKMENT BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3125N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3125N), registered now, S/N 394, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-3
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2800202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 394
- Airframe hours: 8160
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Forty Miles Air, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 23, 1988, 21 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Destination: EAA, EAGLE, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: EAA, Eagle, runway 6, 3,500 × 150 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,450 total, 188 in this make and model, 3,250 as pilot in command, 310 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880601019739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880601019739A), Jun 1, 1988: Dhav DHC3, Eagle, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on landing and ground looped off the runway down an embankment. Tail wheel unlocked.

## Other investigations on N3125N (4)

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.

- [NTSB ANC15LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA037), Jun 4, 2015: Dehavilland DHC-3T (N3125N), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab.
- [NTSB ANC14LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA035), May 30, 2014: Dehavilland DHC-3T (N3125N), Homer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab.
- [NTSB ANC06LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA134), Sep 2, 2006: de Havilland DHC-3 (N3125N), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and subsequent collision with a ditch when the airplane departed the…
- [NTSB ANC99LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA057), Apr 27, 1999: de Havilland DHC-3 (N3125N), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsafe/hazardous area for landing. Factors in the accident were the presence of a tail wind, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and a narrow…

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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