Northway Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northway, Alaska 99764
Wednesday, September 14, 1983 18:51 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT AT 300 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT STATED THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY WITH AND WARNING AT 300 FT AGL. WITNESSES ON THE ARPT SAID THEY HEARD THE ENGINE MISFIRING AND BACKFIRING SO BADLY DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THEY WERE SURE THAT THE PLT WOULD ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION THE AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ON POSITION IS REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF ANDLANDING. FAILURE TO USE THIS PUMP AND ADJUSTMENT OF MIXTURE FOR TAKEOFF WILL RESULT IN THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY THE WITNESSES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/14/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1851
Event Time Zone --
Event City NORTHWAY
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99764
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 9
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 20
Airport Elevation 1716
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1912 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID ORT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1716
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 2510
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22824
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9365S
NTSB Number ANC83FA171
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model C-23
Aircraft Series Identifier C-23
Aircraft Serial Number M-1661
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 5 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 1085
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAY H./VIRGINIA SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address LIME VILLAGE
Aircraft Owner City MCGRATH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99627
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 3300
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --