# NTSB CEN22LA372: Dehavilland DHC-3, N320KT, Talkeetna, AK, July 28, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 28, 2022, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.321775, -150.092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3218&lon=-150.0920&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105695
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA372
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105695/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105695
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA372

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a ditch.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2802412), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tail wheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a crosswind, the airplane began to swerve right as the tail wheel touched the ground. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage just above the right main gear attachment. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N320KT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N320KT), registered now, S/N 73, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-3
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2802412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-34-series) (registry code 52143, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 73
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 27466
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Rust's Flying Service, INC
- Registered owner: Rust's Flying Service, INC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2022
- Departed: ATK, Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PATK, Talkeetna, runway 19, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,432 total, 161 in this make and model, 3,254 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 2995.00 inHg
- Observed at: PATK
- METAR: PATK 282053Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02060028 56010

## 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 20220728007569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220728007569A), Jul 28, 2022: Dehavilland DHC-3, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Flightseeing flight returning to Talkeetna Airport with 8 passengers and one pilot. Upon landing, the MLG touched down without incident. As the aircraft slowed…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105695. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14400558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20William%20Nebesky_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 950 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14513312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.