Douglas DC-3C N8042X
26 June 1989 · Petersburg, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 26 June 1989 at about 19:05 local time, a Douglas DC-3C registered N8042X, operated by California Air Tours, Inc, was involved in an accident near Petersburg, Alaska, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 19:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Petersburg, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Petersburg (PSG)
- Coordinates
- 57.0510, -132.6201
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3C
- Registration
- N8042X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- California Air Tours, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Petersburg → Ketchikan
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89FA122
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRPORT USING THE RIGHT SEAT CONTROLS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE FAILURE & SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE RIGHT AILERON FABRIC, AND THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TO THE CONTROL WHEEL WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSTRESSING THE AILERON CONTROL CHAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF AT 200-300 FT AGL, A PORTION OF FABRIC SEPD FROM THE R AILERON. WHILE MANEUVERING THE ACFT THE PLT'S CONTROL WHEEL BECAME FREE, AND HE ELECTED TO DITCH USING FULL RUDDER & DIFFERENTIAL POWER. EXAM OF THE PLT'S CONTROL WHEEL AILERON CONTROL CHAIN REVEALED THAT THE CHAIN FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD. THE RIGHT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A MECHANIC EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR AND HELD A PRIVATE PLT CERT WITH SINGLE & MULTIENGINE RATING. HE STATED THAT HE SUGGESTED TO THE PLT THAT HIS CONTROLS WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY, BUT THE PLT DISAGREED & PROCEEDED TO DITCH THE ACFT. EXAM OF THE RIGHT CONTROL YOKE REVEALED AILERON MOVEMENT IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Douglas DC-3C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Douglas DC-3C | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | B&M Enterprises | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1986 | Douglas DC-3C | El Paso, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Mar 1992 | Douglas DC-3C | San Juan | Four Star Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1993 | Douglas DC-3C | Zephyrhills, Florida, United States | Phoenix Air Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Dec 1985 | Douglas DC-3C | Dillingham, Alaska, United States | Lester L. Bingman | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1993 | Douglas DC-3C | San Juan | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-32 | Kasigluk, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1989 | Cessna 185E | Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1989 | Aeronca 15AC | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 1989 | Cessna 180-A | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1989 | Cessna 185 | Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1989 | Cessna 152 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |