# NTSB ANC89LA156: de Havilland DHC-3, N17689, Sheenjek River, AK, September 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1989, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Sheenjek River, AK
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5252/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA156

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE LANDING.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  THE DOWNDRAFT, EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL ACTION, AND SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - sand bar
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS THE ACFT WAS ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON A GRAVEL BAR, IT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. TO AVOID CONTACTING THE WATER, HE CORRECTED WITH ELEVATOR CONTROL & POWER, BUT THE ACFT GAINED MORE ALTITUDE THAN HE DESIRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRAVEL BAR BEYOND THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. AS THE PLT WAS APPLYING HEAVY BRAKING TO STOP ON THE GRAVEL BAR, THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE SANDY TERRAIN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17689](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17689), registered now, S/N 431, built 1961 (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: 4-31
- Airframe hours: 7000
- Engines: P&W R-1340-59 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wright Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 22, 1989, 17 hours before
- Departed: SHEENJEK RIVER, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 127 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °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 19890902033329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890902033329A), Sep 2, 1989: Dhav DHC3, Fort Yukon, AK, Substantial damage. Used heavy braking and nosed over while landing on a gravel bar. Had landed long and was trying to prevent overrun.

## Other investigations on N17689 (1)

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 ANC90LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA103), Jun 30, 1990: De Havilland DHC-3 (N17689), Beaver Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: MECHANICAL FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST ROCKER ARM.

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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