- Date
- April 1, 1996, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Beluga, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N861TADouglas DC-6-B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960401007519A
- Case key
- 2814
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-in-Command's selection of an unsuitable terrain area for taxi/parking and his misjudgment of the clearance required.
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
After landing the Captain was taxiing the airplane to the parking area to off load his cargo of fuel. While the Captain was maneuvering the airplane in the parking area the left wingtip struck a vertical steel building support. The Captain attempted to back up the airplane through the use of reverse thrust. While backing up, the left elevator, stabilizer, and vertical fin struck a steel fuel tank being stored near the parking area. The Captain stated that the parking area is tight for a DC-6 airplane.
Factual narrative
On April 1, 1996, at 1100 Alaska standard time, a retractable gear, wheel equipped DC-6-B airplane, N861TA, registered to and operated by Woods Air Fuel, Inc., of Palmer, Alaska, collided with ground fuel tanks at Beluga, Alaska, during taxi after landing. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Palmer and the destination was Beluga, Alaska. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated airline transport pilot- in-command, the first officer, and the flight engineer were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.
During a telephone interview with the crew on April 4, 1996, they stated that the Captain was taxiing the airplane because he had control of the nose gear steering wheel. They were making a right turn in the parking area attempting to position the airplane close to the ground fuel tanks in order to off load their fuel cargo. The Captain stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that the area is very tight for a DC-6 airplane. During the right turn, the left wing tip struck a steel upright support for an open building. The Captain stopped the airplane and called for reverse. As the Captain backed up the airplane, the left elevator, left stabilizer, and vertical fin struck a steel fuel tank being stored near the parking area. The Captain stated that the airplane did not back up along the same ground track made during the forward taxi. He stated that when operating in reverse, the weight on the nose wheel is reduced.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N861TA
- Reported as
- Douglas DC-6-B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 43522
- Airframe hours
- 45,384
- Engine
- P&W R-2800-CB16, 2,400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Woods Air Fuel, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · February 1, 1996 · 92 hours before
- Departed
- PAQ · Palmer, AK
- Destination
- BLG · AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- BLG · Beluga
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 26,000 total · 15,000 in this make and model · 23,000 as pilot in command · 134 in the last 90 days · 77 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
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 N861TA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.