AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT

On April 5, 2000, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Short Brothers SC7 airplane, N549WB, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote airstrip, about 46 miles east of Delta Junction, Alaska, at latitude 64 degrees, 27 minutes north, and longitude 144 degrees, 56 minutes west. The flight was being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 135, as a cargo flight, operated by Allwest Freight, Inc. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Delta Junction airstrip, about 1445. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 6, the pilot reported that he was landing to the north, which required a correction for a left crosswind. He reported that during the landing roll, a strong gust of wind veered the airplane to the right. He said that he applied left rudder in an attempt to realign the airplane with the airstrip, but was unable to realign the airplane before the airplane's nose wheel struck a snow berm. He said that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose wheel bulkhead. The pilot related that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the southwest at 20 knots, with peak gusts to 30 knots, and added that the airstrip was covered with ice. The pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB dated May 5, 2000, and indicated that during the landing roll, the wind shifted. The pilot wrote, in part: "When landing to the north with a good wind from the north, on the south end of the strip, midway down the strip, the wind changed to the southwest at about 15 to 20 knots, with a very icy runway. I hit the snow berm along side of the runway, and bent the nose gear." The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT

During a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator, the commercial pilot reported that he was landing to the north, which required a correction for a left crosswind. He said that after landing and during the landing roll, a strong gust of wind veered the airplane to the right. He applied left rudder in an attempt to realign the airplane with the airstrip, but was unable to realign the airplane before the airplane's nose wheel struck a snow berm. The pilot related that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the southwest at 20 knots, with peak gusts to 30 knots, and added that the airstrip was covered with ice. In his written report, dated May 5, 2000, the pilot wrote, in part: 'When landing to the north with a good wind from the north, on the south end of the strip, midway down the strip, the wind changed to the southwest at about 15 to 20 knots, with a very icy runway. I hit the snow berm along side of the runway, and bent the nose gear.' The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose wheel bulkhead.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing. Factors associated with the accident were an unfavorable wind, a crosswind, and an inadvertent swerve.

END REPORT