Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Tanana, Alaska 99777
Sunday, April 11, 1982 17:35 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN SLOPE WHILE IN A STEEP LEFT BANK/NOSE LOW TURN. THE 1754 AST WEATHER AT TANANA, AK (19 NM SSE) WAS, IN PART: 1800 FT BROKEN, 3500 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7 MI WITH LIGHT SNOW, WIND 320 DEG AT 18 KTS. FLIGHT ADVISORIES WERE POSTED FOR SOME TURBULENCE IN THE AREA, AND THERE WERE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENTS WHICH WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY LOW LEVEL WINDS. SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS PERSISTED IN THE AREA WELL BEYOND THE ESTIMATED TIME OF THE CRASH. THE ELEVATION OF THE AIRPORT AT TANANA WAS 227 FT MSL, THE CRASH SITE WAS AT ABOUT 2550 FT MSL. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1735
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City NEAR TANANA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99777
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1754
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID TAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2453
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11058
NTSB Number ANC82FA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 210901D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 653
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL R. BRILES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 60670
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99706
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TUNDRA COPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 60670
Operator City FAIRBANKS
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99706
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BANDDANACK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1650
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --