Douglas C 118A accident near Buckland, Alaska, August 1, 2019
On August 1, 2019 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1953 Douglas C 118A, registered N451CE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Buckland, Alaska (Candle 2 airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during the approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, a separation of the right main landing gear, and a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2019 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buckland, Alaska · Candle 2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas C 118A No Series, built 1953 · all C 118As on the register
- Registration
- N451CE · no longer on the register · serial 43712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew was landing the transport-category airplane at a remote, gravel-covered runway. According to the captain, the terrain on the approach to the runway sloped down toward the approach end, which positioned the airplane close to terrain during the final stages of the approach. A video recorded by a bystander showed that while the airplane was on short final approach, it flew low on the glidepath and dragged its landing gear through vegetation near the approach end of the runway. The video showed that, just before the main landing gear wheels reached the runway threshold, the right main landing wheel impacted a dirt and rock berm. The captain said that to keep the airplane from veering to the right, he placed the No. 1 and No. 2 engine propellers in reverse pitch. The flight engineer applied asymmetric reverse thrust to help correct for the right turning tendency, and the airplane tracked straight for about 2,000 ft. The video then showed that the right main landing gear assembly separated, and the airplane continued straight down the runway before veering to the right, exiting the runway, and spinning about 180°, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. On-site examination of the runway revealed several 4-ft piles of rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, which is likely what the right main landing wheel impacted. Given that the airplane landing gear struck vegetation and rocks on the approach to the runway, it is likely that they were below the proper glidepath for the approach. The crew stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,910 hours in all; 147 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,316 hours in all; 69 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight Engineer
- Flight time: 3,025 hours in all
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 42,037.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 27, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 100,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB3 (piston); 20,340 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB3 (piston); 5,766 hours total
- Engine 3: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB3 (piston); 1,559 hours total
- Engine 4: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB3 (piston); 4,043 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAFA Faribanks AK
- Destination: AK75 Buckland AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 3,880 ft by 90 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PABL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.