Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delta Junction, Alaska 99737
Sunday, February 23, 1997 15:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger were departing a remote, frozen lake, in a wheel/ski equipped airplane. During the takeoff run, in a southerly direction, the airplane encountered strong gusty winds from the east. The airplane began to slide sideways to the right and the right main gear separated from the fuselage at the upper gear attach point. The right wing and propeller struck the ice. The closest official weather observation station, 41 miles west of the accident site, was reporting wind from the east at 12 knots with gusts to 24 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation of wind conditins, and failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff run. The crosswind was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City DELTA JUNCTION
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99737
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1551 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID BIG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1277
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 679
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1610
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93189
NTSB Number ANC97LA028
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier 185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18503194
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 30 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 687
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WINSTON BURBANK
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 71109
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99707
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
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --