Chevak Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chevak, Alaska 99563
Saturday, October 26, 1991 9:55 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 14 AT CHEVAK. ACCORDING TO THE FIRST OFFICER, THE STATION MANAGER, AND THE DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS THE WIND WAS BLOWING 090 TO 100 DEGREES AT 35 TO 40 KNOTS. THE CAPTAIN STATED THE WIND WAS FROM 060 TO 090 DEGREES AT 22 TO 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO USE 20 DEGREES OF FLAP FOR TAKEOFF, HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT ONLY 10 DEGREES OF FLAP BE USED FOR A CROSSWIND TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT MANUAL STATES THAT THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THIS AIRPLANE WAS 20 KNOTS BUT IS NOT A LIMITING FACTOR. THE CAPTAIN PERFORMED THE TAKEOFF AND UPON LIFT OFF THE AIRPLANE WEATHER VANED AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE LEFT WING ROSE INTO THE AIR AND THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS OTHER COMPANY FLIGHTS IN THE AREA CANCELED THEIR FLIGHTS EARLIER DUE TO HIGH WINDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE HIGH CROSSWIND CONDITION, THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURES AND THE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL. FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CAPTAIN'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone --
Event City CHEVAK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99563
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHEVAK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VAK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 75
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 1000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2183
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47393
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N724CA
NTSB Number ANC92LA010
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 DE HAVILLAND
Aircraft Model DHC-6
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-6
Aircraft Serial Number 793
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Sep 26 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 106
Airframe Hours 11274
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARKAIR INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 196769
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99519
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARKAIR EXPRESS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6441 S. AIRPARK PLACE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code HERA
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 955
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HPB
Destination City HOOPER BAY
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2690
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --