# Accident 20160930013799A: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Lopez, WA, September 30, 2016 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 30, 2016, 08:36 local time - Place: Lopez, WA - Airport: Fishermans Bay Spb - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: GJRA - Location: 48.4642° N, 122.9533° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4642&lon=-122.9533&mi=10 - Aircraft: N6781L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6781L-2019-07-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 (registry code 2800102, https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 - Reported engine: NONE NONE - People aboard: 4 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 3 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 1,630 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA189) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160930013799A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. PILOT DEPARTED ON A CFR 135 FLIGHT FROM KENMORE AIR HARBOR SEAPLANE BASE (W55) TO FISHERMAN'S BAY SEAPLANE BASE (81W). THE NEAREST REPORTED WEATHER WAS FROM FRIDAY HARBOR AIRPORT (8 MILES WEST) AND THE WEATHER REPORT AT 0853 REPORTED NINE MILES VISIBILITY AND A 400 FOOT OVERCAST CEILING. OTHER PILOTS FLYING IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME ESTIMATED THE TOP OF THE OVERCAST LAYER WAS 1200' AGL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST LAYER AND BEGAN A DESCENT BENEATH THE CLOUDS AND COULD SEE WATER AT ALL TIMES DURING HIS DESCENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT A CERTAIN POINT, BEFORE TURNING FINAL TO LAND, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG AND LOST SIGHT OF THE WATER. REALIZING HIS APPROACH WAS UNWORKABLE, HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. AS SOON AS HE DID THAT, HE CONTACTED THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, THEN CONTACTED THE WATER AGAIN. IT WAS UPRIGHT. WATER BEGAN TO ENTER THE AIRPLANE, AND HE ORDERED EVERYONE TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE. PASSENGER WITNESS STATEMENTS CONFIRM THAT THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY AT SOME POINT ON HIS APPROACH. THERE IS A DISPARITY BETWEEN THE PILOTS STATEMENT AND THAT OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER, THEREFORE UNABLE TO DETERMINE AT EXACTLY WHAT POINT DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT WENT FROM VFR CONDITIONS INTO IMC CONDITIONS. ## 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 WPR16LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA189), Sep 30, 2016: Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2 MK.1 (N6781L), Lopez Island, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land in an area of low visibility and ground fog, which resulted in collision with water. ## Other reports on N6781L (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20060914019789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060914019789I), Sep 14, 2006: Dhav DHC2MK1 (N6781L), Orcas Island, WA, Minor damage. (-23) While taxiing floatplane to a private dock to pick up pax, the left float struck a submerged object and holed the bottom of the float. A local boat was… - [Accident 20010430010529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010430010529A), Apr 30, 2001: Dhav DHC2MK1 (N6781L), Seattle, WA, No damage. (-23)According to pilot statements, winds at the time of the accident were out of the south at 25 knots with higher gusts, and one (1) foot swells exited on… 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.