FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Tailwheel Airplane Strikes Ditch and Runway Light During Approach

Kenai, AK, United States

On August 1, 2019, a Douglas DC3C A operated by Bush Air Fuel was involved in an aviation accident near Kenai, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in gusting crosswind wind conditions, which resulted in landing short of the runway and impact with a ditch and runway light. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During approach, a tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a downdraft, landed short, struck a ditch and a runway light, resulting in substantial fuselage damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures and strong gusty crosswinds.

Incident Details

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane was on approach when he encountered a downdraft. The tailwheel contacted the ground short of the runway threshold, then struck a ditch and subsequently impacted a runway light. The pilot reported that the wind conditions at the time included a "22+ knot front left quartering crosswind and gusting."

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage as a result of the impact with the ditch and the runway light. No other damage to the aircraft was reported.

Pilot Report

According to the pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot attributed the event to the downdraft and crosswind conditions encountered during the approach.

Contributing factors

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilotEffect on operation

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

  • 31 Jul 2019 — Douglas DC-3C (Bush Air Fuel)

More accident analyses