Dillingham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Saturday, May 15, 1999 17:54 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that during taxi for takeoff the tailwheel equipped airplane did not steer correctly. He said that he decided to return to parking. While returning to park, the airplane turned to the left 270 degrees, substantially damaging the empennage. Postaccident inspection revealed the rudder gust lock was still installed on the tail.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate preflight by the pilot, who left the rudder gust lock installed, making directional control not possible.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1754
Event Time Zone --
Event City DILLINGHAM
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99576
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DILLINGHAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DLG
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 86
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 75
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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) 672
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 15 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8883C
NTSB Number ANC99LA062
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-20
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-20
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1465
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 4 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 1000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KERRISON LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12314 140TH, SE
Aircraft Owner City KENT
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98042
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALBERT W. BALL, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 4
Operator City DILLINGHAM
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99576
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 DLG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1754
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KKU
Destination City EKUK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 6404
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --