De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) N723DR

Summary

On 3 August 2011 at about 17:50 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) registered N723DR, operated by Copper Valley Air Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Northway, Alaska, United States. 5 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.

Date

3 August 2011 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Northway, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.9009, -157.6897

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)

Registration

N723DR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Copper Valley Air Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glennallen → Northway

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC11TA079

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to identify unsuitable terrain for landing and subsequent contact with a dirt mound, resulting in the separation of the tailwheel from the airframe.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the landing roll he noticed a problem with the tailwheel. After he unloaded the passengers, he realized that the tailwheel casting had broken and the tailwheel spindle and fork had separated from the airframe. He inspected the landing area and noticed that he had hit a 4-inch bank of dirt that he had not seen in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage bulkhead.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.