# Accident 20130827018139A: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), Bethel, AK, August 27, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2013, 13:00 local time
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YGZC
- Location: 60.7819° N, 161.7431° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7819&lon=-161.7431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N734Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734Q) (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: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
- Reported engine: P&W R-985 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,060 total, 210 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC13CA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130827018139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON AUGUST 27, 2013 THE AIRMAN, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS REPOSITIONING COMPANY AIRCRAFT, N734Q, A DHC-2 BEAVER ON STRAIGHT FLOATS, FROM H MARKER LAKE TO THE KUSKOKWIM RIVER IN BETHEL, ALASKA.  DUE TO THE SIZE OF H MARKER LAKE, IT IS COMMON PRACTICE TO REPOSITION ALL AIRCRAFT EMPTY FROM THE OPERATOR'S MAIN BASE OF OPERATIONS TO A LARGER, SAFER BODY OF WATER WHERE 135 PORTION OF THE FLIGHT BEGINS.  N734Q WAS THE SECOND AIRCRAFT OF THE FLIGHT OF 2 TO REPOSITION TO THE PREARRANGED AND COMMONLY USED, CLIENT PICK-UP AT Z59.  PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE AIRMAN OF N734Q RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE COMPANY AIRMAN WHO JUST SUCCESSFULLY LANDED AT Z59, NOTIFYING HIM THAT THE WATER WAS REALLY CHOPPY AND IT ADVISED HIM TO PLAN TO LAND UP RIVER FROM Z59 AND TAXI TO THE SEA PLANE BASE.

DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING AT Z59, THE AIRMAN OF N734Q STATED HE WAS FIXATED ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE RIVER AND DISCOUNTED THE 45 DEGREE, 10 KNOT CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT ESTIMATED TO BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF LANDING.  UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRMAN OF N734Q FAILED TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CAUSING THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTACT THE WATER FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.  THE AIRMAN TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE CITY DOCK WHERE IT WAS LOADED ONTO A TRAILER AND REMOVED FROM THE WATER.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO RIGHT WING SPAR AND RIB DAMAGE.  LEFT FLOAT SPARS AND WIRES WERE ALSO DAMAGED AS A RESULT FROM THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC13CA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA087), Aug 27, 2013: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (N734Q), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and crosswind compensation during landing.

## Other reports on N734Q (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20070808018379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070808018379I), Aug 8, 2007: Dhav DHC2MK1 (N734Q), Bethel, AK, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] made a hard landing on a glassy lake causing the right float strut to collapse. The failure of the strut caused an…

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.

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