# NTSB ANC99LA109: Cessna A188-B, N731UW, Bettles, AK, August 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1999, 23:00 local (Aug 8, 1999, 07:00 UTC) - Place: Bettles, AK - Coordinates: 67.240066, -152.27098 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2401&lon=-152.2710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47156/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA109 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor was soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing at a remote mining airstrip to repair an area of soft ground on the strip. The pilot reported that rain was falling at the time. The airstrip is about 1,000 feet long, and 50 feet wide, at an elevation of 1,120 feet msl. During the landing roll after touchdown, the left main tire entered the area of soft ground. The airplane ground looped to the left, and received damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer, and the right elevator. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 1999, about 2300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna A188-B airplane, N731UW, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote mining airstrip, about 50 miles north of Bettles, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to Allwest Freight Corp., Flat, Alaska, and operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Nenana Municipal Airport, Nenana, Alaska, about 2130. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 9, 1999, the pilot reported he was landing toward the south at the mine airstrip. The airstrip is oriented north/south, and is about 1,000 feet long, and 50 feet wide, at an elevation of 1,120 feet msl. The pilot said rain was falling, and he was flying to the airstrip to repair an area of soft ground on the strip. During the landing roll, the left main tire entered the area of soft ground. The airplane ground looped to the left, and received damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer, and the right elevator. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731UW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731UW-2015-05-21), registration cancelled 2015-05-21, S/N 18803175T, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188-B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803175T - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William H. Michel - Registered owner: Allwest Freight Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ENN, NENANA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 20,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °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 19990807011669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990807011669A), Aug 7, 1999: Cessna A188B, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (-23)on August 7, 1999 a tailwheel Cessna A-188B, N731UW sustained… 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.