# NTSB ANC92FA106: Short Brothers SC7, N20086, Bethel, AK, July 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1992, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Coordinates: 60.809345, -161.849533 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8093&lon=-161.8495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92FA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5645/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92FA106

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE SECURITY OF THE CARGO WHICH SHIFTED REARWARD DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OVER GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION, AND THE IMPROPER ALTERATION OF THE TIE DOWN RINGS BY THE OVERHAULING MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - security of cargo - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,major alteration - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE ROLLED 200-300 FT BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. IT MAINTAINED THIS ATTITUDE, MADE A RIGHT, THEN A LEFT BANK, AND FELL TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE CARGO CONSISTED OF EIGHT 55-GAL DRUMS OF FUEL, LAID ON THEIR SIDE AND SECURED BY ONE CARGO STRAP RUNNING FORE AND AFT AND ANOTHER CARGO STRAP RUNNING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE BARRELS. THE TIE DOWN RING ULTIMATE STRENGTH RATING WAS 1600 POUNDS. THE WEIGHT OF THE CARGO WAS 2863 POUNDS. THREE OF THE CARGO HOOKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARGO STRAPS WERE FOUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIE DOWN RINGS, AND ONE HOOK AND TIE DOWN RING WERE NOT LOCATED. POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE CARGO STRAPS, AND THE BARRELS WERE STREWN RANDOMLY THROUGH THE CABIN/CARGO AREA. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE DAVIS TIE DOWN RING INSTALLATION IS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MODIFICATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED UNDER A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. THE LOGBOOKS SHOWED ONLY AN ENTRY. THE CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED BY 324.8 LBS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20086](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20086-1992-10-27), registration cancelled 1992-10-27, S/N SH1918 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Short Brothers SC7
- Registry model: [Short Bros. & Harland SC7 SERIES 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-bros-harland-sc7-series-2) (registry code 8100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SH-1918
- Airframe hours: 6390
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-2-201A 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Arctic Circle Air Service Inc., doing business as Arctic Circle Air Service Inc.
- Registered owner: Scope Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 1992, 94 hours before
- Departed: BET
- Destination: VAK, CHEVAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 18, 6,398 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 28° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BET, 1 nm away

## 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 19920713025039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920713025039A), Jul 13, 1992: Stbros SC7SERIES2, Bethel, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Nosed up and stalled on takeoff. Impacted tail low. Burned. Load shift due improper tie down. Over gross weight.

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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