# NTSB ANC97LA090: Beech D18S, N765D, Willow, AK, June 25, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1997, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.889682, -149.730346 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8897&lon=-149.7303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3019/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA090 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) - Fire, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot took off from a 4400-foot-long gravel airstrip with a near gross weight load of cargo. He said that shortly after lift-off the airplane felt 'sluggish', and he believes the left engine began to lose power. He said the airplane would not climb, and he elected to bring both engines to idle and land on the remaining runway. The airplane touched down a short distance from the end of the runway, and continued off the end and into the woods. A fire erupted, and the airplane was destroyed by fire. The pilot is unsure if the fire occurred in the air, or shortly after the airplane went off the end of the runway. The engines were extensively damaged by fire, and were not examined. FAA inspectors on scene said there was no obvious signs of catastrophic engine failure. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1997, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Beech D18S airplane, N765D, was destroyed during takeoff from the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska. The solo airline transport certificated pilot was not injured. The business flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions, and a company flight plan was in effect. The intended destination was Sleetmute, Alaska, which was the first leg of a flight with stops at Sleetmute and Stony River, Alaska, and eventual return to Willow. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on June 27, the pilot related he has a retail business that supplies groceries and other items to remote villages. He said he uses airplanes to transport those goods to his customers. On the accident flight, he said he loaded the airplane with a combination of groceries, three 55-gallon drums of gasoline, a propane tank, and other assorted items. He said he believed the gross weight of the airplane was about 100 to 200 pounds under its allowable gross weight of 10,100 pounds. Shortly after liftoff from runway 31 (gravel, 4,400 feet), he said the airplane "felt a little weak" in the climb. About 100 feet above the ground, he said the left wing dropped slightly, and the right wing rose, causing him to believe the left engine was not developing full power. He said the airplane would not climb, and he elected to bring both engines to idle and land. The airplane touched down a short distance prior to the end of the runway, and then went into and beyond the overrun area, colliding with small trees and brush. The pilot said he is not sure if the left engine was on fire prior to impact, but a significant fire was visible on the left wing as he went off the end of the runway. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unaided. A pilot who was flying overhead the Willow Airport at 5,500 feet msl, said he saw the accident airplane lined up at the very end of runway 31. He said he saw the dust cloud as the airplane began its takeoff run, and was concerned the airplane would not liftoff prior to the end of the runway. He also said the airplane swerved to the left a couple of times during the takeoff roll. He said he was relieved when he saw the airplane liftoff about 500 feet from the end of the runway, and he momentarily looked away. When he looked back, he saw another cloud of dust, and the airplane on the ground and in the trees off the end of runway 31. He saw fire, and someone running away from the airplane. The majority of the airplane was destroyed by fire. The engines were recovered from the wreckage, but were extensively damaged by fire, and were not examined by the NTSB. FAA inspectors who went to the accident site reported the engines displayed no obvious signs of catastrophic failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N765D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N765D-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N A-818, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D18S - Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A-818 - Airframe hours: 8600 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter Warner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: UUO - Destination: SLQ, SLEETMUTE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: UUO, Willow, runway 31, 4,400 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 35 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19970625015969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970625015969A), Jun 25, 1997: Beech D18S, Willow, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed on takeoff. (From .4) the pilot took off from a 4400-foot-long gravel airstrip with a near gross weight load of cargo. He said that shortly… ## Other investigations on N765D (2) 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 CHI75AC063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC063), Mar 8, 1975: Beech D18S (N765D), Chicago, IL, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC71IN053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71IN053), Oct 27, 1970: Beech D18S (N765D), Albany, NY, incident, minor 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.