# NTSB ANC02LA060: de Havilland DHC-2, N211AW, Nikiski, AK, June 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2002, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Coordinates: 60.704444, -151.311386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7044&lon=-151.3114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive rate of descent resulting in a hard landing on water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water - Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,float assembly - buckled ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was landing toward the west in a float-equipped airplane. The wind was from the north, about five knots. The pilot indicated he was in the landing flare, and the airplane's airspeed was about 50 knots. As the airplane touched down, the left float dug into the water. The airplane pivoted to the left and nosed down. The left float was crushed upward against the fuselage. The pilot said that he and his passenger exited the airplane, which remained floating nose down for about 15 minutes. The airplane then slowly nosed over and remained floating upside down. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2002, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N211AW, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on Island Lake, located about 1 mile south of Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Alaska West Guides and Outfitters, Wasilla, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from Congahbuna Lake, about 8 miles west of Tyonek, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 24, the pilot reported that after dropping off passengers at Congahbuna Lake, he was returning to the Island Lake Seaplane Base, Nikiski, with a company guide. The pilot said he was landing toward the west, and the wind was from the north, about five knots. He said as he flared for a landing, the airplane's airspeed was about 50 knots. As the airplane touched down, the left float dug into the water. The airplane pivoted to the left and nosed down. The left float was crushed upward against the fuselage. The pilot said that he and his passenger exited the airplane, which remained floating nose down for about 15 minutes. The airplane then slowly nosed over and remained floating upside down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211AW-2007-07-17), registration cancelled 2007-07-17, S/N 1360, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de HAVILLAND DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (registry code 2808002) (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: 1360 - Airframe hours: 12550 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alaska West Guides And Outfitters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2002, 40 hours before - Departed: TYONEK, AK - Destination: 2R3, NIKISKI, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 24,300 total, 30 in this make and model, 24,300 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F ## 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 20020624016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020624016769A), Jun 24, 2002: Dhav DHC2MKI, Kenai, AK, No damage. (-23) Pilot reported wind was light. Landing to the west after touch-down left float dug in. Pilot applied right rudder, but aircraft wouldn't respond. Flight… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 6, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55028. 804 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 804 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.