- Date
- May 25, 1993, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Kivalina, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N401NACessna 402B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19930525018989A
- Case key
- 2342
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to check the condition of the runway before takeoff. The soft runway condition was a factor in the accident.
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
The pilot stated that aprox 20 yards into the takeoff roll the nose wheel sank into a soft spot in the center of the gravel strip and collapsed. The pilot also stated that the soft spot was hard to see, and that the runway appeared to have been recently graded. The Alaska airport facility directory cautions pilots that the condition of the runway is not monitored.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 1993, at approximately 1050 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 402B, N401NA, received substantial damage when its nose gear collapsed during the initial takeoff roll on runway 30 at Kivalina, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot in command and the one revenue passenger, the sole occupants on board, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled commuter flight by Alaska Island Air, Inc. when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Kotzebue at 1005. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight's attempted departure from Kivalina and a VFR flight plan was filed.
The pilot in command stated that approximately 20 yards into the takeoff roll, the nose wheel sank into a soft spot in the center of the gravel strip and collapsed. The pilot said the soft spot was hard to see and that the runway appeared to have been recently graded. The Airport Facility Directory for the State of Alaska cautions pilots that the condition of the runway is not monitored.
The pilot reported that following the accident he was neither asked nor did he participate in a toxicological examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N401NA
- Reported as
- Cessna 402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Alaska Island Air
- Registered owner
- Alaska Island Air
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- OTZ · Kotzebue, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- KVL · Kivalina, runway 30, 3,000 × 100 ft, gravel
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
- 26
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 400 in this make and model · 3,400 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N401NA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.