Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

April 27, 1999 · De Havilland DHC-3 · N3125N

Healy, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Healy, AK
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-3
Tail Number
N3125N
Operator
Forty Mile Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC99LA057

The certificated airline transport pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a remote airstrip located on a ridge line. The on-demand air taxi flight was the pilot's third landing of the day on the airstrip. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. During the landing, the pilot touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of an unsafe/hazardous area for landing. Factors in the accident were the presence of a tail wind, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and a narrow airstrip.

Full Narrative

On April 27, 1999, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped deHavilland DHC-3 airplane, N3125N, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a remote airstrip, about 13 miles north-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Forty Mile Air Ltd., Tok, 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 Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1000. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 3, 1999, the chief pilot for the operator reported he was flying the airplane into and out of a small airstrip located on a ridge line. He was transporting building supplies and workers to the area. The airstrip, known as Daniels Strip, is oriented east/west, and is about 1,500 feet long and about 10 feet wide. The pilot said the airstrip is a one-way airstrip, with landings performed toward the west. The strip is flat for about half of the length, and then proceeds uphill. The pilot said on the third landing of the day, he touched down on the strip on the main landing gear. Before the tail wheel touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the strip. The leading edge of the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing tip and wing nose ribs. The pilot said a tail wind was present, about 15 knots from 090 degrees.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:15 AKDT
Nearest AirportDaniels Strip (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length1500 ft
Runway Width10 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-3
Tail NumberN3125N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorForty Mile Air
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPezetel · ASZ-62IR-M18 · Reciprocating · 1000
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data