20210709004279A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20 · Coffman Cove, AK · July 9, 2021

Date: July 9, 2021 · 07:23 local
Place: Coffman Cove, AK
Airport: Coffman Cove
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: S03A
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9279Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC21LA057
Reported as: Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,400 total49 in the last 90 days

N9279ZRegistered now · Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20S/N 345 · Built 1952 Airframe modelDehavilland DHC-2-L-20 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R-985 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.

The air carrier was conducting a part 91 repositioning flight back to the main base when, during departure from Coffman Cove seaplane base, shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft propeller and forward float spreader bar struck a 6 foot, 7 inch tall green channel buoy and impacted the water and sank.

As the FAA filed it

THE AIR CARRIER WAS CONDUCTING A PART 91 REPOSITIONING FLIGHT BACK TO THE MAIN BASE WHEN, DURING DEPARTURE FROM COFFMAN COVE SEAPLANE BASE, SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER AND FORWARD FLOAT SPREADER BAR STRUCK A 6 FOOT, 7 INCH TALL GREEN CHANNEL BUOY AND IMPACTED THE WATER AND SANK.

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 ANC21LA057Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCoffman Cove, AKThe pilot’s impact with a buoy on takeoff which resulted in a nose-over.Jul 9, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9279Z · 1

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

Incident 19920526021399ILevel Off Touchdown · Reno, NVAircraft on floats landed on runway without extending the landing gear. Pilot failed to confirm gear down.May 26, 1992 · Reported as Dhav DHC2MK1 · Minor damage