# NTSB ANC00LA098: de Havilland DHC-2, N444EF, King Salmon, AK, July 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2000, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: King Salmon, AK - Coordinates: 58.74945, -156.540817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7495&lon=-156.5408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was departing a river in a float equipped airplane. Two branches of another river were flowing from the right, into the main channel used by the pilot for departure. A left crosswind was blowing between 10 to 20 knots. During the takeoff run toward the north, the pilot began to lower the nose of the airplane to get 'on-step.' He raised the water rudders and the airplane veered to the left. He said the left crosswind, and strong river current from the right produced the left turn. He then aborted the takeoff. The airplane did not get airborne, and collided with trees along the left bank of the river in an area of shallow water. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2000, about 1415 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N444EF, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a fishing lodge, about 20 miles north of King Salmon, Alaska, about latitude 59 degree, 01 minutes north, and longitude 156 degrees, 48 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Katmai Pro Shop Inc., King Salmon. The commercial certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. On August 11, 2000, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) was notified that the airplane had been damaged. An inspection of the airplane on the same day in Anchorage, Alaska, revealed wing rib damage to the right wing tip, and damage to the outboard end of the left elevator. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB (IIC), on August 14, 2000, at 0800, the pilot reported that he was departing the Katmai Lodge which is located near the confluence of the Alagnak River, and the Kvichak River. The pilot was transporting lodge guests to King Salmon. The pilot said he began a takeoff run toward the north and had just began to lower the nose on-step. He raised the water rudders and the airplane veered to the left. He said a left crosswind, and a strong river current from the right produced the left turn. He then aborted the takeoff. The airplane did not get airborne, and collided with trees along the bank of the river in an area of shallow water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444EF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444EF), registered now, S/N 926, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2800102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 926 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Katmai Lodge - Registered owner: Katmai Pro Shop Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: AKN, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,754 total, 3,550 in this make and model, 19,454 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 315° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,200 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000726042449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000726042449A), Jul 26, 2000: Dhav DHC2MK1, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 26, 2000 at about 1215 local time, DHC-2 float equipped airplane, N444EF sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during… 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. --- 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.