Amateur-built DARD 1 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, March 18, 2024
On March 18, 2024, a 1997 amateur-built DARD 1, registered N696AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control while landing in soft snow, resulting in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2024
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DARD 1, built 1997
- Registration
- N696AK · registry record · serial 1533
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during approach to the snow-covered runway in flat light conditions, the runway end lights were off making it difficult to see the runway. He lined up on what he perceived to be the runway centerline and noted ski tracks to the right of his position. After a normal touchdown, he increased power for a touch-and-go; however, he noticed the skis bogged down into the soft snow. There was a sudden deceleration, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder. After landing he realized he had misidentified the runway and landed in softer snow, in an area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 910 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 23.8 in the last 90 days; 15.1 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,019.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 8, 2023; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 1,019 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from AMR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAMR 172353Z 00000KT 10SM BKN070 OVC110 02/M02 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP075 T00171017 10017 21011 51003 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 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.