# Accident 19990825024819A: Dhav DHC2*, Iliamna, AK, August 25, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 25, 1999, 06:20 local time - Place: Iliamna, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: T8GC - Location: 59.8493° N, 154.5601° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8493&lon=-154.5601&mi=10 - Aircraft: N930TG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N930TG-2020-05-29) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (registry code 2808002, https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DHAV DHC2* - Reported engine: PWA R985* - People aboard: 5 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 7,400 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA124) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990825024819A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON AUGUST 25, 1999, ABOUT 0615 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 AIRPLANE N930TG, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE LAKE, ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF ILIAMNA, ALASKA, AT POSITION 59 DEGREES 45 MINUTES NORTH LATITUDE, 154 DEGREES 22 MINUTES WEST LONGITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE FOR HIS FISHING GUIDE BUSINESS, ILIASKA LODGE, INC., OF ILIAMNA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND FOUR PASSENGERS ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON AUGUST 25, THE PILOT RELATED THAT PRIOR TO HIS TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, HE NOTED THAT THE LAKE SURFACE HAD 2 FEET TALL, ROLLING SWELLS. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, BEFORE A SAFE FLYING AIRSPEED WAS ATTAINED, THE AIRPLANE FLOATS STRUCK A LARGE WAVE, AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE WATER PREMATURELY. HE SAID THAT BEFORE HE COULD REACT, THE LEFT WING STALLED, AN D THE AIRPLANE, AND THE AIRPLANE SANK. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, EMPENNAGE, AND WINGS. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF IN THE PREDAWN HOURS AND STRUCK A SWELL THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 FEET IN HEIGHT. ON THE TAKEOFF RUN, THE LEFT FLOAT STRUCK THE SWELL AND DUG IN. THE IMPACT REMOVED THE FLOATS AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SINK. THE PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT AND STAY ON THE FLOAT OF THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL A BOAT ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE WITH 2 FEET TALL, ROLLING SWELLS. THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, BEFORE A SAFE FLYING AIRSPEED WAS ATTAINED, THE AIRPLANE FLOATS STRUCK A LARGE WAVE, AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE WATER PREMATURELY. HE SAID THAT BEFORE HE COULD REACT, THE LEFT WING STALLED, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. DURING THE COLLISION, THE FLOATS WERE TORN OFF THE AIRPLANE, AND THE AIRPLANE SANK. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, EMPENNAGE, AND WINGS. THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION IS ILIAMNA. ON AUGUST 25, 1999, AT 0553, AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR) WAS REPORTING IN PART: WIND, 259 DEGREES (MAGNETIC) AT 7 KNOTS; VISIBILITY, 10 STATUTE MILES; CLOUDS, 7,500 FEET BROKEN; TEMPERATURE, 51 DEGREES F; DEW POINT, 46 DEGREES F; ALTIMETER, 29.52 INHG. OFFICIAL CIVIL TWILIGHT FOR ILIAMNA WAS AT 0610. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA124), Aug 25, 1999: de Havilland DHC-2 (N930TG), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, and an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident were large wave/swells, and low light conditions (dawn). ## Other reports on N930TG (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20170618005769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170618005769A), Jun 18, 2017: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (N930TG), Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed. Description: N930TG a de havilland DHC-2 beaver floatplane, owned and operated by rdm pilot/ guide ltd (Y3RA) a part 135 air carrier based in Ketchikan, AK,… - [Accident 20030731037389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030731037389A), Jul 31, 2003: Dhav DHC2MKI (N930TG), Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Iliaska lodge, a part 91 operator, operates three Dehavilland beavers (DHC-2). The lodge had employed Mr. Robert craig johnson for approximately one week… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.