De Havilland DHC-3 N472PM
14 July 1995 · Ketchikan, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 14 July 1995 at about 02:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-3 registered N472PM was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, United States. 8 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 55.6106, -131.5794
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-3
- Registration
- N472PM
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC95LA103
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Probable cause
THE CRACKS IN THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE ELEVATOR SERVO TAB, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE AND PARTIAL SEPARATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A CLIMBOUT AND WAS ADJUSTING THE TRIM FOR LEVEL FLIGHT, WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN VIBRATING. HE LANDED IMMEDIATELY. EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT A PORTION OF THE ELEVATOR SERVO TAB HAD SEPARATED. EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE SERVO TAB SHOWED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE TRAILING EDGE. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED, THE TAIL WAS ABOUT 10 TO 11 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO INSPECT DURING PREFLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other De Havilland DHC-3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Mar 1995 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Selawik, Alaska, United States | Nordic Flying Service | Unknown | - |
| 23 Jun 1994 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | Wings Airline Sevice | Fatal | 7 |
| 19 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1992 | De Havilland DHC-3 | McGrath, Alaska, United States | Woods Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1992 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Metlakatla, Alaska, United States | Taquan Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1991 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nome, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1995 | Cessna 180B | Cantwell, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 May 1995 | Cessna 150 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Alaska Air Academy | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Jun 1995 | Piper J3C-65 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 May 1995 | Piper PA-18 | Chugiak, Alaska, United States | Peter J. Kust | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jun 1995 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Nondalton, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-31 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |