Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

American River, Alaska
Friday, September 19, 1986 17:17 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER LANDING ON A 1200 FT GRAVEL BAR, THE PLT PACED OFF THE AVAILABLE AREA, ESTIMATED THE LOAD TO PICK UP, THEN LOADED THE ACFT. DUE TO THE X-WIND, HE USED LESS THAN TAKEOFF FLAPS. HE BEGAN TAKING OFF, BUT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT 'SEEMED TO HIT A DOWNDRAFT.' THE PLT SELECTED TAKEOFF FLAPS & BEGAN A SLIGHT TURN TO GET MORE ROOM TO CLEAR A 20 FT BANK OF DIRT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE BANK. AFTER IMPACT, IT CAME TO REST ON THE TUNDRA & THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE PLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/1986
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1717
Event Time Zone --
Event City AMERICAN RIVER
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 0
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1241
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31635
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83U
NTSB Number ANC86LA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-3
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-3
Aircraft Serial Number 371
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 26 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 8154
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERING AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1650
Aircraft Owner City NOME
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99762
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERING AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City NOME
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --