KIVALINA, AK, USA
N401NA
CESSNA 402B
THE PILOT STATED THAT APROX 20 YARDS INTO THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE NOSE WHEEL SANK INTO A SOFT SPOT IN THE CENTER OF THE GRAVEL STRIP AND COLLAPSED. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE SOFT SPOT WAS HARD TO SEE, AND THAT THE RUNWAY APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY GRADED. THE ALASKA AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY CAUTIONS PILOTS THAT THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY IS NOT MONITORED.
On May 25, 1993, at approximately 1050 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 402B, N401NA, received substantial damage when its nose gear collapsed during the initial takeoff roll on runway 30 at Kivalina, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot in command and the one revenue passenger, the sole occupants on board, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled commuter flight by Alaska Island Air, Inc. when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Kotzebue at 1005. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight's attempted departure from Kivalina and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot in command stated that approximately 20 yards into the takeoff roll, the nose wheel sank into a soft spot in the center of the gravel strip and collapsed. The pilot said the soft spot was hard to see and that the runway appeared to have been recently graded. The Airport Facility Directory for the State of Alaska cautions pilots that the condition of the runway is not monitored. The pilot reported that following the accident he was neither asked nor did he participate in a toxicological examination.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE SOFT RUNWAY CONDITION WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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