Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Torbet, Alaska
Wednesday, August 17, 1988 20:03 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ON-DEMAND-CHARTER FLIGHT WAS TO ORIGINALLY PICKUP PASSENGERS AND CARGO BUT A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM FORCED ANOTHER AIRPLANE WITH A MECHANIC TO BE DISPATCHED. THE OTHER AIRPLANE RETURNED WITH THE PASSENGERS AND THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC AND DEPARTED AT A LATER TIME WITH THE CARGO ON BOARD. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FROM 7000 FEET MSL TO 12,500 FEET MSL AS REPORTED BY THE OTHER COMPANY AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF MT. TORBERT AT THE 10,570 FOOT LEVEL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT PILOT SEAT WITH A NON-AVIATION RELATED BOOK IN HIS LAP. THE MECHANIC WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT PILOT SEAT WITH A WORLD AERONAUTICAL CHART, CD-11 OPEN ON HIS LAP. THE MECHANIC HELD A COMMERCIAL PILOTS CERTIFICATE BUT NO INSTRUMENT RATING. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED WEAKNESSES IN COMPANY OPERATIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2003
Event Time Zone --
Event City MT. TORBET
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 50
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37850
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5718M
NTSB Number ANC88FA111
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 402B0354
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 16 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3051
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILBURS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1740 E 5TH AVE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILBURS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1740 E 5TH AVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99501
Operator Code EMSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SLQ
Departure City SLEETMUTE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --