Tatitna Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mcgrath, Alaska 99627
Tuesady, February 5, 2008 12:50 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote, snow-covered airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross-country positioning flight in a wheel-ski equipped airplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, he aborted the takeoff because of soft snow conditions. As the airplane slowed, it drifted to the right, and the right wing struck a tree. From the cockpit, the pilot said he saw what appeared to be minor scuffing on the right wingtip. The pilot then took off in the opposite direction, and landed at his destination. Inspection of the airplane by maintenance personnel revealed denting of the leading edge of the right wing, denting along the underside of the right wing, and a tear in the underside of the right wing aileron.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/5/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City McGrath
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99627
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 621736N
Event Location Longitude 1532143W
Event Location Airport Tatitna Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8KA
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 Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23413
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N323KT
NTSB Number ANC08CA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1022
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rust Properties LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Rust's Flying Service Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code ERHA
Owner has at least one certificate --
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 8KA
Departure City McGrath
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PATK
Destination City Talkeetna
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2008 6:19PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --