Tanis Mesa Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yakutat, Alaska 99689
Monday, May 13, 2002 10:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/airplane owner was landing his tailwheel airplane equipped with over-sized tires on a turf runway. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. An aviation mechanic who repaired the airplane said the main landing gear leg strut had fractured at what he believed was a pre-existing crack. The pilot stated in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator that he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll due to a fractured main gear leg strut.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone --
Event City Yakutat
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99689
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 591453N
Event Location Longitude 1383013W
Event Location Airport TANIS MESA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AK69
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12550
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date May 13 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 16 2003 4:27PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Juneau

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3JK
NTSB Number ANC02LA033
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 941-76
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 2744
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jim Keeline
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 10
Aircraft Owner City Yakutat
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99689
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code YAK
Departure City Yakutat
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1010
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Yakutat
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 11 2002 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record SNYG
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 1900
Runway Width 15
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --