# NTSB ANC95LA084: Lockheed L-382E, N906SJ, Mcgrath, AK, June 5, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1995, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Mcgrath, AK
- Coordinates: 63.609951, -154.779525 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6100&lon=-154.7795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2671
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2671/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA084

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE THE AIRPLANE WAS ADEQUATELY FLARED FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO A 3800 FOOT LONG GRAVEL AIRSTRIP WHICH HAD A 60 FOOT HILL AT THE APPROACH END. THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND DURING LANDING. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FROM THE OPERATOR, THE AIRPLANE'S SINK RATE WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ARRESTED BY THE FLIGHT CREW BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, AND THE TAIL SKID STRUCK THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING FLARE.

## Factual narrative

On June 5, 1995, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped, retractable gear, Lockheed L-382E airplane, N906SJ, registered to and operated by Southern Air Transport of Columbus, Ohio, dragged its tail during landing at Nixon Fork Mine, located 28 miles north of McGrath, Alaska.  The unscheduled cargo flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 121, departed Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was Nixon Fork Mine.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.  The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command, the first officer, and the flight engineer, the only occupants, were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.

During a telephone conversation with Southern Air Transport's L-382 Chief Pilot, he stated that the airplane, N906SJ, is 18 feet longer than the other L-382 airplanes.  He stated it was real easy to drag the tail if you developed a sink rate and attempted to arrest the sink rate by increasing the landing flare.  This airplane was landing on runway 35 at Nixon Fork Mine and the approach was over a 60 foot high hill.  The hill is situated at the threshold of runway 35.  The runway is 3,800 feet long and 75 feet wide.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N906SJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N906SJ-1999-10-08), registration cancelled 1999-10-08, S/N 4477 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED L-382E
- Registry model: [Lockheed 382G](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-382g) (registry code 526414U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4477
- Airframe hours: 45737
- Engines: ALLISON 501 D-22A 4600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Southern Air Transport
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 5, 1995
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: NFR, NIXON FORK MI, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Nixon Fork Mine, runway 35, 3,800 × 75 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,455 total, 3,280 in this make and model, 82 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## 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 19950605018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950605018059A), Jun 5, 1995: Lkheed 382G, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. Landing approach path is over a hill. Runway short 3800 ft. rotated to arrest sink. Dragged the extended tail.

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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