Gustavus Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gustavus, Alaska 99826
Tuesady, June 11, 1996 12:10 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing a tailwheel airplane on a hard surfaced runway. The airplane's main landing gear wheels were equipped with over-sized, 'Tundra' tires. The pilot stated that immediately upon touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the right. He said he sensed a crosswind, and applied left aileron. He applied brakes, and heard the left wing scrapping the runway. When he exited the airplane, he noticed the left main tire was flat, and the left aileron was damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone --
Event City GUSTAVUS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99826
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GUSTAVUS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GST
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 36
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1214 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GST
Elevation of weather observation facility 36
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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) 709
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56581
NTSB Number ANC96TA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier 185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18502907
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 24 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 3005
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4837 AIRCRAFT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 137
Operator City YAKUTAT
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99689
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code YAK
Departure City YAKUTAT
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GST
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 10
Runway Length 6700
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --