# NTSB ANC93LA068: Cessna 402B, N401NA, Kivalina, AK, May 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1993, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Kivalina, AK - Coordinates: 67.730728, -164.549087 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.7307&lon=-164.5491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2342 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2342/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA068 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401NA-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 402B0035, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B - Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930525018989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930525018989A), May 25, 1993: Cessna 402B, Kivalina, AK, Substantial damage. Nose gear folded on takeoff when it sank into soft spot on dirt runway. ## Other investigations on N401NA (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 MIA86LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA132), Apr 25, 1986: Cessna 402B (N401NA), Opa Locka, FL, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.