What happened
On May 28, 2011, at approximately 1400 Alaska daylight time, a De Havilland DHC-3T, registration N87AW, was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight from Coldfoot, Alaska, to a private airstrip located roughly 80 miles northwest of Bettles Field. The flight was being operated by Alaska West Air, Inc.
Upon touchdown at the private airstrip, the pilot reported that the landing area was soft. The aircraft initially veered to the left, and although the pilot attempted a correction to the right, the aircraft subsequently drifted back toward the left. The pilot stated there was insufficient rudder and brake authority to regain directional control and insufficient runway remaining to abort the landing. Consequently, the aircraft ran off the end of the runway and collided with fuel spill equipment and a fuel storage tank.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the sole passenger. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, and the fuselage.