Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Karluk, Alaska 99608
Tuesady, August 19, 1997 13:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tundra tire equipped airplane landed on the beach with a direct, left, crosswind. The left main landing gear contacted soft sand, and the airplane veered left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Related factors were: the direct left crosswind, and the soft sand.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone --
Event City KARLUK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99608
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 8
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 1400 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 57
Weather Observation Facility ID ODK
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 971
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3RY
NTSB Number ANC97LA125
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 185
Aircraft Series Identifier 185
Aircraft Serial Number 185-02645
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 26 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 5064
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM BLAKE LARUE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1830 E. PARKS HIGHWAY #693
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99654
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WHISTLER AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 15066
Operator City FRITZ CREEK
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99603
Operator Code LXLC
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 09AK
Departure City LARSEN BAY
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City AYAKULIK RIVER
Destination State AK
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 --