Amateur-built DOGGER CRAFT accident near Palmer, Alaska, May 16, 2009
On May 16, 2009 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DOGGER CRAFT, registered N530KW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Palmer, Alaska (Wolf Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over and substantial damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2009 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Wolf Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DOGGER CRAFT
- Registration
- N530KW · registry record · serial 1001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported he was landing his homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced dry runway, at the conclusion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane’s tail to the right, and the airplane swerved to the left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Witnesses reported variable winds at the time of the accident. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that he should have flown with an instructor before attempting a landing at the accident airport.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 28, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCG Mcgrath AK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 4AK6 Palmer AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.