# Accident 20191007021139A: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, Akhiok, AK, October 7, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2019, 14:20 local time
- Place: Akhiok, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: D4NA
- Location: 56.9386° N, 154.1825° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9386&lon=-154.1825&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1544, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1544) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 (registry code 2800108, https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2) (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 BEAVER DHC-2
- Reported engine: P&W R-985 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,173 total, 238 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA20CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191007021139A

## Narrative

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

I DEPARTED KARLUK PORTAGE ON THE KARLUK RIVER NEAR LARSEN BAY ALASKA AT 1357 AKD. TERRAIN IS A WIDE FLAT RIVER VALLEY WITH MOUNTAINS ON THE OUTSKIRTS. WINDS WERE LIGHT AND BLOWING DOWNRIVER. I TOOK OFF UPSTREAM. AIRCRAFT WAS EMPTY AND I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT. I CLIMBED UP TO 2500' AND HEADED DIRECT TO AYAKULIK RIVER. UPON ARRIVAL OVER THE LANDING ZONE, I CIRCLED AND EVALUATED THE WIND AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE, THE LANDING ZONE ON THE RIVER WAS GLASSY. I DECIDED TO LAND DOWNRIVER. FROM THE DOWNWIND LEG I TURNED LEFT INTO THE BASE LEG AND TRANSITIONED VIA AN OVAL PATTERN INTO FINAL APPROACH. AS I WAS ROLLING THE WINGS LEVEL AND STARTING TO LEVEL MY PITCH ATTITUDE AND SET UP A GLASSY WATER LANDING ATTITUDE, I FELT THE FORWARD PART OF THE LEFT FLOAT TOUCH THE WATER WHICH WAS THEN  FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE UNCONTROLLED YAW TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT WENT UP THE BANK OF THE RIVER AND SLID ACROSS THE TUNDRA HITTING SEVERAL BUMPS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I WAS UNHURT, SHUT OFF THE FUEL AND MASTER SWITCH. I EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CALLED FOR HELP ON THE SATELLITE PHONE. THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 14:20 AKD.

## 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 GAA20CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA007), Oct 7, 2019: De Havilland Beaver DHC 2 (N1544), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control while landing on glassy water, which resulted in the left float touching the water, a loss of yaw control, and impact with a riverbank.

## Other reports on N1544 (2)

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

- [Accident 20180124013959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180124013959A), Jan 24, 2018: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 (N1544), Afognak Island, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft was being operated as a VFR part 135 flight by andrew airways. The aircraft departed kodiak, AK with a load of cargo and no passengers. During landing…
- [Accident 20130914018939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130914018939A), Sep 14, 2013: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 (N1544), Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. On September 14, 2013 at approximately 1300 local Alaska time a straight float equipped DHC-2, N1544 was departing the ayakulik river on Kodiak island with the…

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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