Tok Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tok, Alaska 99780
Thursday, March 17, 1988 19:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE-OFF AT DUSK WITH A LEFT MAIN GEAR WHEEL BRAKE THAT WAS FROZEN IN THE 'ON' POSITION. HE HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO FREE THE BRAKE PRIOR TO TAKE0FF, BUT FELT THAT HE COULD GET THE AIRPLANE AIRBORNE BY SKIDDING THE TIRE ALONG THE TOP OF THE SNOW AND ICE COVERED RUNWAY. HE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL AND STRUCK A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT WITH THE AIRPLANE'S STABILATOR. HE COMPLETED THE FLIGHT UNEVENTFULLY, AND DID NOT DISCOVER THE DAMAGE TO THE STABILATOR UNTIL AFTER HE LANDED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE-OFF WITH THE BRAKE FROZEN, AND THAT HE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE RUNWAY LIGHT IF IT HAD BEEN LIGHTED, BUT IT WAS ACTIVATED ON COMMAND VIA THE AIRPLANE'S RADIO, AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHICH FREQUENCY TO USE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City TOK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99780
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6K8
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 1630
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 48
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 28 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35367
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34603
NTSB Number ANC88LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
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 177
Aircraft Series Identifier 177
Aircraft Serial Number 17701895
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Nov 5 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 1778
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOWARD, ROBERT R
Aircraft Owner Street Address 153 DOME RD
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99709
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWARD, ROBERT R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 153 DOME ROAD
Operator City FAIRBANKS
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99709
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 1900
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --