# NTSB ANC99LA057: de Havilland DHC-3, N3125N, Healy, AK, April 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 1999, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK - Coordinates: 63.680595, -150.030609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6806&lon=-150.0306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsafe/hazardous area for landing. Factors in the accident were the presence of a tail wind, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and a narrow airstrip. ## 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 - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrow (contributing factor) - unsafe/hazardous condition - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a remote airstrip located on a ridge line. The on-demand air taxi flight was the pilot's third landing of the day on the airstrip. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. During the landing, the pilot touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 1999, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped deHavilland DHC-3 airplane, N3125N, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a remote airstrip, about 13 miles north-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Forty Mile Air Ltd., Tok, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1000. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 3, 1999, the chief pilot for the operator reported he was flying the airplane into and out of a small airstrip located on a ridge line. He was transporting building supplies and workers to the area. The airstrip, known as Daniels Strip, is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. The pilot said on the third landing of the day, he touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3125N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3125N), registered now, S/N 394, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-3 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2800202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 394 - Engines: Pezetel ASZ-62IR-M18 1000 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Forty Mile Air Ltd. - Registered owner: Charlie Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 25, 1998, 54 hours before - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Daniels Strip, runway 27, 1,500 × 10 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,600 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19990427017329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990427017329A), Apr 27, 1999: Dhav DHC3, Healy, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) On April 27, 1999, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Dehavilland DHC-3 airplane, N3125N, sustained substantial damage during a landing… ## Other investigations on N3125N (4) 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 ANC15LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA037), Jun 4, 2015: Dehavilland DHC-3T (N3125N), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab. - [NTSB ANC14LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA035), May 30, 2014: Dehavilland DHC-3T (N3125N), Homer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnel’s subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab. - [NTSB ANC06LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA134), Sep 2, 2006: de Havilland DHC-3 (N3125N), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and subsequent collision with a ditch when the airplane departed the… - [NTSB ANC88LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA066), Jun 2, 1988: De Havilland DHC-3 (N3125N), Eagle, AK, substantial 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.