# NTSB GAA19CA251: De Havilland DHC2, N456SF, McCarthy, AK, May 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2019, 16:30 local (May 4, 2019, 00:30 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK - Coordinates: 61.128612, -142.415283 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1286&lon=-142.4153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99394/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99394 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA251 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the airstrip and bouncing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 2 MK III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2808005), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach to land on a private, gravel-covered airstrip, a dust cloud obscured three-quarters of the airstrip, but the approach end of the airstrip remained visible. He added that, during the approach, the airplane encountered wind shear, and the main landing gear then impacted terrain before the approach end of the airstrip. The airplane then bounced and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable from 060° to 120° at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot landed the airplane to the east. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, on approach to land on a private, gravel-covered airstrip, a dust cloud obscured three-quarters of the airstrip, but the approach end of the airstrip remained visible. He added that, during the approach, the airplane encountered wind shear, the main landing gear impacted terrain before the approach end of the airstrip, the airplane bounced, and came to rest nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was variable from 060° to 120° at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. The pilot landed the airplane to the east. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N456SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N456SF), registered now, S/N 1683 TB51 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: De Havilland DHC2 (III) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-iii) (registry code 2808005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-27-series) (registry code 52247, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1683 TB51 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 21750.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, August 14, 2018 - Destination: PVT, McCarthy, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: PVT, Ultima Thule Lodge, runway 09, 2,000 × 100 ft, gravel - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 31,096 total, 5,724 in this make and model, 31,096 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: 23 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 20190503015179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190503015179A), May 3, 2019: Dehavilland DHC 2 MK III, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. Certificate holder was making a landing at ultima thule lodge near Mccarthy, AK. On approach the winds were gusting 20 to 25 knots quartering headwind. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99394. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.