Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Saturday, November 12, 1994 15:50 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS LANDING IN A CROSSWIND AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT WITH 2 PASSENGERS. THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER WAS REPORTING A 20 DEGREE CROSSWIND AND THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DRIFTING OFF OF THE APPROACH COURSE. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THEN SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND RAN OFF THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY NEAR THE END. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A SNOW BERM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR TO NIL AND AT TOUCHDOWN, THE CROSSWIND WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. A CROSSWIND AND ICY RUNWAY CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/12/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City BETHEL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BETHEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 123
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID BET
Elevation of weather observation facility 123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1894
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 18 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2002 9:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6322D
NTSB Number ANC95LA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17272720
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 30 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 3092
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RYAN AIR SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1205 E. INT'L ARPT RD. #201
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99518
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code UATA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AKI
Departure City AKIAK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1529
Departure Time Zone AST
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 29
Runway Length 1850
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --