Lake Hood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Tuesady, March 26, 2013 10:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the wheel-/ski-equipped airplane was taxiing for departure on a snow-covered taxiway when he lost directional control in the deep snow and veered to the left, colliding with a parked airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The operator wrote that the accident may have been prevented if he had waited for the taxiway to be cleared of snow.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing on a snow-covered taxiway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/2013
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone --
Event City Anchorage
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99502
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 611016N
Event Location Longitude 1495932W
Event Location Airport Lake Hood
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Z41
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID PANC
Elevation of weather observation facility 151
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31342
NTSB Notification Source Anchorage International Airpor
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 20 2013 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N995SP
NTSB Number ANC13CA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DEHAVILLAND
Aircraft Model DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 995
Certified Max Gross Weight 5370
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 14 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 15514
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SPORTSMANS LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99517-2813
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Joe Schuster
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99517-2813
Operator Code J4HC
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 4591
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code Z41
Departure City Anchorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Skwentna
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 20 2013 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --