Northway Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northway, Alaska 99764
Wednesday, July 27, 1988 11:19 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIALLY CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS LANDING AT NORTHWAY, AK., WHEN THE AIRPLANE GROUND-LOOPED TO THE LEFT. HE REPORTEDLY HAD ALSO GROUND-LOOPED THE SAME AIRPLANE WHEN HE LANDED AT WHITEHORSE, CANADA, JUST PRIOR TO THE LANDING AT NORTHWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT RUDDER RETURN SPRING WAS NOT CONNECTED, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER TO THE LEFT UPON TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND WAS ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT TO ALASKA. HIS TOTAL TAIL-WHEEL EXPERIENCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 35 HOURS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1119
Event Time Zone --
Event City NORTHWAY
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99764
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NORTHWAY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ORT
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 1716
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1059 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ORT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1716
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 5000
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 525
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36345
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5327D
NTSB Number ANC88LA098
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 180A
Aircraft Series Identifier 180A
Aircraft Serial Number 50225
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Jul 3 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 3796
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LESLIE ROBERT TUPPER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1908 BROADMOOR DR.
Aircraft Owner City BOISE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code H-1C
Departure City WHITEHORSE
Departure State CD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ORT
Destination City NORTHWAY
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --