N7380U

On September 10, 1998, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N7380U, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote airport, about 13 miles east of Hughes, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Warbelow's Air Ventures Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, Alaska, at 1403.

In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 24 at the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station (LRRS) airport. The pilot said the wind conditions were 030 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 24 knots. During the landing flare, about 3 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, or wind shear. The airplane stalled, and contacted the runway hard on the main landing gear.

After landing, the pilot reported he inspected the airplane for damage but did not notice any. The following day, September 11, 1998, the pilot began a preflight inspection of the airplane in preparation for a flight. He noticed the aft tie-down ring, and tail skid, located on the underside of the tail cone, was broken off the airplane. In addition, the airplane received damage to the aft empennage bulkhead, and adjacent fuselage structure.

The Indian Mountain LRRS, is located at 1,200 feet msl. Runway 24 is 4,100 feet long, and 120 feet wide. It has an uphill gradient of 7.1 percent.