# NTSB GAA17CA294: Dehavilland DHC 2, N561TA, Petersville, AK, May 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2017, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Petersville, AK - Coordinates: 62.936111, -150.684448 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9361&lon=-150.6844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95207/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95207 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA294 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxiing, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the ski-equipped airplane reported that, as the tailwheel touched down on the glacier, the snow was deeper and softer than he had expected. He added that, during the uphill landing, he chose not to stop the airplane and risk getting stuck. Instead, he completed a turn at the top of the landing area but was unable to straighten the direction of travel enough for a takeoff. Subsequently, to straighten the airplane before the takeoff, he completed a left 360° turn. During the downhill takeoff, the airplane had poor acceleration and insufficient airspeed to fly, so he aborted the takeoff. As he reduced the engine power, the airplane slowed to what he felt to be a reasonable speed, and he initiated a left turn to taxi back to the top. Subsequently, the right ski dug into the snow, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the ski-equipped airplane reported that, as the tailwheel touched down on the glacier, the snow was deeper and softer than he had expected. He added, that during the uphill landing, he elected not to stop the airplane and risk getting stuck. Instead, he completed a turn at the top of the landing area, but was unable to straighten the direction of travel enough for a takeoff. Subsequently, to straighten the airplane before the takeoff, he completed a left 360° turn. During the downhill takeoff, the airplane had poor acceleration and insufficient airspeed to fly, so he aborted the takeoff. As he reduced the engine power, the airplane slowed to what he felt to be a reasonable speed and he initiated a left turn. Subsequently, the right ski dug into the snow, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N561TA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC 2 (MK 1) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 581 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 16049 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R 985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc - Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 17, 2017 - Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK - Destination: N/A, Petersville, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: N/A, Great Gorge of Ruth Glacier - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,707 total, 218 in this make and model, 4,655 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: PAEC, 22 nm away ## 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 20170528008949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170528008949A), May 28, 2017: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. A telephonic conversation with the owner,[privacy data omitted], revealed the following: the flight departed tka at 11:40 for a scenic flight including landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95207. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 900 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 631 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.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.