Summary
On July 31, 1998, a Douglas DC-3C (N305SF) was involved in an incident near Anchorage, AK. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the resulting overload fracture of the tailwheel fork assembly.
On July 31, 1998, at 1526 Alaska daylight time, a Douglas DC-3C airplane, N305SF, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 32 at Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The two pilots, the only occupants, were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a repositioning flight by Galaxy Air Cargo, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Nondalton, Alaska, at 1400 for Anchorage.
The pilot reported that during a normal wheel landing, after lowering the tail at slow speed, the airplane veered left, and departed the runway edge. The airplane was then taxied to the ramp.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC98LA114. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N305SF.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the resulting overload fracture of the tailwheel fork assembly.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 31, 1998, at 1526 Alaska daylight time, a Douglas DC-3C airplane, N305SF, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 32 at Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The two pilots, the only occupants, were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a repositioning flight by Galaxy Air Cargo, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Nondalton, Alaska, at 1400 for Anchorage.
The pilot reported that during a normal wheel landing, after lowering the tail at slow speed, the airplane veered left, and departed the runway edge. The airplane was then taxied to the ramp. The tail cone was dragged on the runway, damaging the tail cone attachment bulkhead. Postaccident inspection revealed two stringers in the tailwheel area requiring repair. The tailwheel was offset to the left of the fuselage, and the tailwheel fork assembly casting was found fractured.
Inspection of the tailwheel fork at the NTSB metallurgical lab revealed overstress separations with no evidence of preexisting cracking. The airplane, and the tailwheel fork assembly had both accumulated 29,857 hours in operation at the time of the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC98LA114