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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.

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NTSB Report

October 26, 1991 · De Havilland DHC-6 · N724CA

Chevak, AK

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 26, 1991
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Chevak, AK
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6
Tail Number
N724CA
Operator
Markair Express
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC92LA010

The captain elected to takeoff on runway 14 at Chevak. According to the first officer, the station manager, and the director of flight operations, the wind was blowing 090 to 100 degrees at 35 to 40 knots. The captain stated the wind was from 060 to 090 degrees at 22 to 25 knots gusting to 35 knots. The captain elected to use 20 degrees of flap for takeoff, however, the flight manual recommends that only 10 degrees of flap be used for a crosswind takeoff. The flight manual states that the demonstrated crosswind component for this airplane was 20 knots but is not a limiting factor. The captain performed the takeoff and upon lift off the airplane weather vaned and began to drift to the right. Simultaneously the left wing rose into the air and the right wing dragged the ground. According to the director of flight operations, other company flights in the area canceled their flights earlier due to high winds.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE HIGH CROSSWIND CONDITION, THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURES AND THE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL. FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CAPTAIN'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Full Narrative

THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 14 AT CHEVAK. ACCORDING TO THE FIRST OFFICER, THE STATION MANAGER, AND THE DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS THE WIND WAS BLOWING 090 TO 100 DEGREES AT 35 TO 40 KNOTS. THE CAPTAIN STATED THE WIND WAS FROM 060 TO 090 DEGREES AT 22 TO 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO USE 20 DEGREES OF FLAP FOR TAKEOFF, HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT ONLY 10 DEGREES OF FLAP BE USED FOR A CROSSWIND TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT MANUAL STATES THAT THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THIS AIRPLANE WAS 20 KNOTS BUT IS NOT A LIMITING FACTOR. THE CAPTAIN PERFORMED THE TAKEOFF AND UPON LIFT OFF THE AIRPLANE WEATHER VANED AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE LEFT WING ROSE INTO THE AIR AND THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS OTHER COMPANY FLIGHTS IN THE AREA CANCELED THEIR FLIGHTS EARLIER DUE TO HIGH WINDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:55 AKDT
Nearest AirportCHEVAK (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length2690 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-6
Tail NumberN724CA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMarkair Express
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-27 · Turboprop · 680
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 30 kt, gusting 35 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingOvercast 1000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data