# NTSB ANC97LA150: Cessna 402C, N2649Z, Kivalina, AK, September 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1997, 19:55 local (Sep 15, 1997, 03:55 UTC) - Place: Kivalina, AK - Coordinates: 67.729759, -164.550979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.7298&lon=-164.5510&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3069/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA150 ## Probable cause An overstress fracture of the nose landing gear attachment. A factor associated with the accident was the rough landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear attach point - fractured (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after placing the landing gear handle in the down position, he observed 3 green, down and locked, indicator lights. He indicated that the touchdown on the gravel runway was normal, and that as he slowed the airplane, the airplane settled onto its nose. Metallurgical inspection revealed overstress fractures of the nose gear actuator upper attachment lug, and overstress fractures of the supporting sheet metal structure. No preexisting defects were noted. No reports were received of previous hard landings. An inspection of the drag link assembly was conducted 45 hours prior to the accident, and no discrepancies regarding the nose landing gear were noted at that time. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1997, at 1955 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 402C airplane, N2649Z, sustained substantial damage when the nose gear collapsed during landing at the Kivalina Airport, Kivalina, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot was uninjured, and no passengers were on board. The airplane was operated by Hageland Aviation Services, Inc., of St. Mary's, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135, as scheduled commuter flight number 916, and had departed Point Hope, Alaska, at 1925. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was landing on runway 12, which was gravel. Winds were reported by the pilot as 080 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot reported that he observed three green, down and locked, landing gear indications after selecting the gear handle to the down position. He stated that as the nose wheel touched down, the nose continued to settle, coming to rest on the nose cone. Postaccident inspection of the nose landing gear assembly revealed that the nose gear actuator upper attachment lug was fractured, and the nose gear sheet metal mounting structure was fractured in several locations. Microscopic inspection conducted at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory revealed features typical of overstress separations, with no indications of preexisting cracks or corrosion. A review of maintenance records showed that the nose gear actuator was replaced on July 16, 1996, at a tachometer time of 637 hours. The accident occurred at 1,466 hours. The last 100 hour inspection conducted on August 28, 1997, 45 hours prior to the accident, included a dye penetrant inspection (#L-28) of the nose gear drag brace. No discrepancies were noted during this inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2649Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2649Z), registered now, S/N 402C0333, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C-0333 - Airframe hours: 8261 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NBCV 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hageland Aviation Services,Inc - Registered owner: Gussic Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 28, 1997, 45 hours before - Departed: PHO, POINT HOPE, AK - Destination: KVL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KVL, Kivalina, runway 12, 3,000 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,900 total, 870 in this make and model, 4,750 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 136 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970914026789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970914026789A), Sep 14, 1997: Cessna 402C, Kivalina, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on landing, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)the pilot stated that after placing the landing gear handle in the down position, he observed 3 green,… ## Other investigations on N2649Z (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 ERA23LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA106), Nov 18, 2022: Cessna 402 (N2649Z), Mashpee, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s impact with a bird while enroute. - [NTSB ANC97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA145), Sep 8, 1997: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Buckland, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot of the Cessna 402C, N2649Z, to maintain adequate clearance while taxiing alongside the stationary Cessna 208B, N1123R. 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.