Amateur-built DHC-4A accident near Lime Village, Alaska, March 20, 1986
On March 20, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-4A, registered N539Y, was destroyed in an accident near Lime Village, Alaska (Lime Village airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Lime Village, Alaska · Lime Village · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-4A
- Registration
- N539Y · no longer on the register · serial 197
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ON FINAL APPROACH WITH ITS GEAR DOWN THEN THE NOSE PITCHED UP. THE ACFT ROLLED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO TREES. THE ACFT'S COCKPIT, CABIN, ENGINE NACELLES, CARGO AND PORTIONS OF THE WINGS WERE DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE UP AND LOCKED POSITION AND THE FLAPS WERE AT 30 DEGREES. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH A GO-AROUND CONFIGURATION. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE COULDBE DETERMINED. THE ACFT HAD A RESTRICTED CATEGORY AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE CARGO AREA CONTAINED TWO FUEL TANKS ANDASSORTED ITEMS (OIL STOVE, TOOLS, 55 GALLON DRUM AND HOSES).THE PILOT WAS TYPE RATED IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THE RWY LENGTH LISTED IN THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT WAS 1000 FT LONGER THAN THE ACTUAL RWY LENGTH. THE RUNWAY WAS GLAZED WITH ICE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,972 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,159 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 28,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2000-7M2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 4:01 pm
- Destination: 23AK Lime Village AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N539Y: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: P&W R-2000-7M2 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Yuknis Airport · nearest airport
- Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC86FA037.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.