Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marshall, Alaska 99585
Saturday, November 30, 1996 12:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The air taxi charter flight departed Bethel for the purpose of conducting a moose count survey between Russian Mission, Alaska, and Marshall, Alaska. The passenger was a wildlife biologist for the State of Alaska. The airplane was scheduled to stop at Emmonak for fuel. The airplane never arrived. It was located where it had crashed near the Yukon River in a steep, nose down attitude, with the nose buried in the ground. The only trees damaged were those directly adjacent to the airplane, depicting a steep, near vertical, crash path profile. The terrain was flat and tree covered, and there were numerous areas on the ground indicating moose had bedded down. Examination of the airplane disclosed the tachometer on the airplane operated 1.6 hours since the airplane's departure from Bethel. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies were discovered with the engine, airframe, or flight controls.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City MARSHALL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99585
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
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 Witness
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 4700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) -32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1884
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93829
NTSB Number ANC97FA009
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 Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier 185
Aircraft Serial Number 18503254
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 10013
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GUSSIC VENTURES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7325 FOXRIDGE CIRCLE #1
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99518
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HAGELAND AVIATION SERVICES IN.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 195
Operator City ST. MARY'S
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99658
Operator Code EPUA
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 BET
Departure City BETHEL
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1027
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ENM
Destination City EMMONAK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --