# Accident 20170322005709A: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), Ketchikan, AK, March 22, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 22, 2017, 07:35 local time
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: W0PA
- Location: 55.3444° N, 131.6633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.3444&lon=-131.6633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N264P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,220 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170322005709A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION:

N264P A 1952 DE HAVILLAND DHC-2 MK. I BEAVER FLOATPLANE (L20A SN#464), OWNED BY RADIAL POWER ENTERPRISES LLC AND OPERATED BY PACIFIC AIRWAYS INC (W0PA) A PART 135 AIR CARRIER BASED IN KETCHIKAN, IMPACTED A U.S. COAST GUARD CHANNEL MARKER BUOY ON TAKEOFF FROM THE KETCHIKAN WATERFRONT.  THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS, ONE PILOT AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF CARGO ONBOARD.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.  THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE STEEL BUOY WITH THE RIGHT WINGTIP JUST AS IT CLIMBED UP ON THE ?STEP? DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL ON THE WATER WHEN IT IMPACTED THE BUOY. AFTER HITTING THE MARKER THE PILOT POWERED DOWN AND TAXIED BACK TO PACIFIC AIRWAYS DOCK AND DEPLANED THE PASSENGERS AND CARGO.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TIED DOWN TO THE COMPANY?S MAINTENANCE HANGAR LOCATED IN WARD COVE AND REMOVED FROM THE WATER AND PLACED IN THE HANGAR.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A PART 135 SCHEDULED PASSENGER AND CARGO FLIGHT TO HOLLIS ALASKA AND WAS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE ON TO THORNE BAY ALASKA.  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS FROM THE PACIFIC AIRWAYS DOCK LOCATED ON THE KETCHIKAN ALASKA WATERFRONT.    THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND WING MOUNTING STRUCTURE.  WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR.  THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT OR BOATS.

## 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 GAA17CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA200), Mar 22, 2017: Dehavilland DHC-2 (N264P), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The floatplane pilot's failure to avoid a buoy during takeoff.

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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