Douglas DC-3C N67588

Summary

On 24 May 1998 at about 08:24 local time, a Douglas DC-3C registered N67588, operated by Galaxy Air Cargo Inc., was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 1998 at 08:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.1604, -149.9900

Aircraft

Douglas DC-3C

Registration

N67588

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Galaxy Air Cargo Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unalakleet → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ANC98LA055

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. A related factor was the soft, marshy terrain at the forced landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The captain/operator, the first officer and one passenger, departed on a cross-country positioning flight. The airplane contained about 300 gallons of fuel. After 3.9 hours en route, the flight was cleared for a visual approach to the destination airport. During the approach, both engines lost power about 2,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot stated the right fuel tank was empty. He estimated that 50 to 60 gallons of fuel remained in the left fuel tank. While the airplane was descending toward an area of open water, he attempted to restart the engines without success. He then lowered the landing gear, and made a right turn toward a small airstrip, located about 5 miles northwest of the destination airport. The airplane touched down in an area of soft, marsh covered, terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed down and received damage to the forward, lower portion of the fuselage. An inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed the left fuel tank contained about 1 inch of fuel. The right fuel selector was positioned on the right auxiliary fuel tank. The left fuel selector was positioned between the left main, and the left auxiliary fuel tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.