Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska 99755
Saturday, April 9, 1994 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT, ALASKA HUNTING GUIDE, WAS FLYING SUPPLIES TO CLIENTS IN THE FIELD LANDED ON REMOTE SNOW COVERED TUNDRA. UPON LANDING, THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR BOLT ATTACHMENT FITTING FAILED AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED. PREEXISTING FATIGUE WAS NOTED ON ATTACHMENT FITTING. THE FITTING IS NORMALLY ENCLOSED IN FABRIC RENDERING IT INACCESSIBLE FOR VISUAL INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR BOLT ATTACHMENT FITTING DUE TO FATIGUE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/9/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City DENALI NAT'L PK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99755
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 726
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37932
NTSB Number ANC94LA044
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model J3
Aircraft Series Identifier J3
Aircraft Serial Number 6709
Certified Max Gross Weight 1270
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 4 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 146
Airframe Hours 10110
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HUTCHESON, CALVIN W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 13467
Aircraft Owner City TRAPPER CREEK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99683
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HUTCHESON, CALVIN W.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 13467
Operator City TRAPPER CREEK
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99683
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City TRAPPER CREEK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --