De Havilland DHC2 N456SF

Summary

On 4 May 2019 at about 00:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC2 registered N456SF was involved in an accident near McCarthy, 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

4 May 2019 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

McCarthy, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Ultima Thule Lodge (PVT)

Coordinates

61.1286, -142.4153

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC2

Registration

N456SF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → McCarthy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA251

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the airstrip and bouncing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach to land on a private, gravel-covered airstrip, a dust cloud obscured three-quarters of the airstrip, but the approach end of the airstrip remained visible. He added that, during the approach, the airplane encountered wind shear, and the main landing gear then impacted terrain before the approach end of the airstrip. The airplane then bounced and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable from 060° to 120° at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot landed the airplane to the east.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.