20060731020639A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Dhav DHC-3 · Slatecreekcove, AK · July 31, 2006

Date: July 31, 2006 · 11:30 local
Place: Slatecreekcove, AK
Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: HXRA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N93356
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC06LA103
Reported as: Dhav DHC3
Reported engine: Garrett TPE33110
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,200 total100 in this make and model300 in the last 90 days

N93356Registered now · Dehavilland DHC-3S/N 144 · Built 1955 Airframe modelDehavilland DHC-3 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On July 31, 2006, about 1130 hours Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped, de havilland DHC-3-T airplane, N93356 sustained substantial damage when it collided with the surface of the water during landing at slate creek cove (berners bay), about 60 miles northwest of juneau, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by ward air, inc., in on demand commercial revenue service under VFR flight rules in accordance with FAR part 135. Discussions with the pilot indicate flat light and glassy water conditions existed at the crash site. Pilot elected to make a right turn for landing, lost sight of the land references, and apparently flew into the water while on a base leg for landing. (-23 amendment) the aircraft sustained substantial damage when it collided with the surface of the water during a landing at slate creek cove, Alaska. Flat light and glassy water conditions existed at the point of landing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 31, 2006, ABOUT 1130 HOURS ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT-EQUIPPED, DE HAVILLAND DHC-3-T AIRPLANE, N93356 SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER DURING LANDING AT SLATE CREEK COVE (BERNERS BAY), ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF JUNEAU, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED BY WARD AIR, INC., IN ON DEMAND COMMERCIAL REVENUE SERVICE UNDER VFR FLIGHT RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR PART 135. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PILOT INDICATE FLAT LIGHT AND GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE CRASH SITE. PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FOR LANDING, LOST SIGHT OF THE LAND REFERENCES, AND APPARENTLY FLEW INTO THE WATER WHILE ON A BASE LEG FOR LANDING. (-23 AMENDMENT) THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER DURING A LANDING AT SLATE CREEK COVE, ALASKA. FLAT LIGHT AND GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE POINT OF LANDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC06LA103Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportJuneau, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting the surface of the water. Factors associated with the accident were the flat-light and glassy water conditions, which affected the pilot's ability to…Jul 31, 2006 · Substantial damage