Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99513
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 16:10 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing the airplane on a runway surrounded by snow berms. He reported that, as the airplane approached the runway threshold, he reduced engine power to flight idle to descend, and the airplane's main landing gear collided with the snow berm at the approach end of the runway. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left wheel well bulkhead assembly. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's premature power reduction, which resulted in a runway undershoot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/1/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Anchorage
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99513
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 611200N
Event Location Longitude 1493000W
Event Location Airport Merrill Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PAMR
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 137
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PAMR
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 28.67
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30022
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 2 2012 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N991AK
NTSB Number ANC12CA021
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR/IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 99
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U-28
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 17
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Dec 13 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 36120
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name LAKE CLARK AIR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address FARM LODGE BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LAKE CLARK AIR INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2425 Merrill Field Drive
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
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 --
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) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TPO
Departure City Port Alsworth
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1505
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PAMR
Destination City Anchorage
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2012 5:13PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --