Kivalina Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kivalina, Alaska 99750
Sunday, September 14, 1997 19:55 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after placing the landing gear handle in the down position, he observed 3 green, down and locked, indicator lights. He indicated that the touchdown on the gravel runway was normal, and that as he slowed the airplane, the airplane settled onto its nose. Metallurgical inspection revealed overstress fractures of the nose gear actuator upper attachment lug, and overstress fractures of the supporting sheet metal structure. No preexisting defects were noted. No reports were received of previous hard landings. An inspection of the drag link assembly was conducted 45 hours prior to the accident, and no discrepancies regarding the nose landing gear were noted at that time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An overstress fracture of the nose landing gear attachment. A factor associated with the accident was the rough landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/14/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1955
Event Time Zone --
Event City KIVALINA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99750
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KIVALINA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KVL
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 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1352
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2649Z
NTSB Number ANC97LA150
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 402C
Aircraft Series Identifier 402C
Aircraft Serial Number 402C-0333
Certified Max Gross Weight 7190
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 8261
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GUSSIC VENTURES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7325 FOX RIDGE 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,INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO 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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHO
Departure City POINT HOPE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1925
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KVL
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 12
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --