De Havilland DHC-2 N323KT

Summary

On 5 February 2008 at about 16:50 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N323KT, operated by Rust's Flying Service Inc., was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. One person was 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.

Date

5 February 2008 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Tatitna Airstrip (8KA)

Coordinates

62.2933, -153.3619

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N323KT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rust's Flying Service Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McGrath → Talkeetna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC08CA034

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.