# NTSB ANC98LA114: Douglas DC-3C, N305SF, Anchorage, AK, July 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1998, 15:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160152, -149.990402 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1602&lon=-149.9904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the resulting overload fracture of the tailwheel fork assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Other gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - overload (cause) ## Analysis During the landing roll, after a wheel landing, the airplane veered left and departed the runway. The airplane's tailwheel fork assembly fractured. Postaccident inspection revealed the tailwheel offset to the left of the fuselage. Inspection at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory showed overstress separations with no evidence of preexisting cracking. The airplane and assembly had both accumulated 29,846 hours in operation at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 1998, at 1526 Alaska daylight time, a Douglas DC-3C airplane, N305SF, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 32 at Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The two pilots, the only occupants, were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a repositioning flight by Galaxy Air Cargo, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Nondalton, Alaska, at 1400 for Anchorage. The pilot reported that during a normal wheel landing, after lowering the tail at slow speed, the airplane veered left, and departed the runway edge. The airplane was then taxied to the ramp. The tail cone was dragged on the runway, damaging the tail cone attachment bulkhead. Postaccident inspection revealed two stringers in the tailwheel area requiring repair. The tailwheel was offset to the left of the fuselage, and the tailwheel fork assembly casting was found fractured. Inspection of the tailwheel fork at the NTSB metallurgical lab revealed overstress separations with no evidence of preexisting cracking. The airplane, and the tailwheel fork assembly had both accumulated 29,857 hours in operation at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N305SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305SF), registered now, S/N 6208, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Douglas DC-3C - Registry model: [Douglas DC3C](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c) (registry code 3021457) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6208 - Airframe hours: 29857 - Engines: P&W 1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Galaxy Air Cargo, Inc., doing business as Majestic Air Cargo - Registered owner: Majestic Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: 5NN, NONDALTON, AK - Destination: ANC - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: ANC, Anchorage International, runway 32, 10,496 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 13,800 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC ## 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 19980731023929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980731023929A), Jul 31, 1998: Doug DC3C, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Landing tailwheel casting seperated. Damaged tail cone an atachment bulkhead.(.4) on July 31, 1998, at 1526 Alaska daylight time, a Douglas DC-3C airplane,… 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.