Douglas C 118A N451CE

Summary

On 1 August 2019 at about 22:00 local time, a Douglas C 118A registered N451CE, operated by Tatonduk Outfitters Limited, was involved in an accident near Buckland, Alaska, United States. 3 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

1 August 2019 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Buckland, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Candle 2 (AK75)

Coordinates

65.9078, -161.9264

Aircraft

Douglas C 118A

Registration

N451CE

Category

Airplane

Year built

1953

Engines

4

Operator

Tatonduk Outfitters Limited

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Faribanks → Buckland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC19LA045

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during the approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, a separation of the right main landing gear, and a loss of directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew was landing the transport-category airplane at a remote, gravel-covered runway. According to the captain, the terrain on the approach to the runway sloped down toward the approach end, which positioned the airplane close to terrain during the final stages of the approach. A video recorded by a bystander showed that while the airplane was on short final approach, it flew low on the glidepath and dragged its landing gear through vegetation near the approach end of the runway. The video showed that, just before the main landing gear wheels reached the runway threshold, the right main landing wheel impacted a dirt and rock berm. The captain said that to keep the airplane from veering to the right, he placed the No. 1 and No. 2 engine propellers in reverse pitch. The flight engineer applied asymmetric reverse thrust to help correct for the right turning tendency, and the airplane tracked straight for about 2,000 ft. The video then showed that the right main landing gear assembly separated, and the airplane continued straight down the runway before veering to the right, exiting the runway, and spinning about 180°, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.  On-site examination of the runway revealed several 4-ft piles of rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, which is likely what the right main landing wheel impacted. Given that the airplane landing gear struck vegetation and rocks on the approach to the runway, it is likely that they were below the proper glidepath for the approach. The crew stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.