# NTSB ANC03LA054: deHAVILLAND DHC-2, N60TF, Sitka, AK, May 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2003, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Sitka, AK - Coordinates: 56.958332, -135.141662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9583&lon=-135.1417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-JNU FSDO 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57097 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57097/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear wheels of an amphibious float equipped airplane after departure from a paved runway, which resulted in a nose over when the airplane was landed on a nearby lake with the wheels extended. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the short flight from the airport to the lake. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels down landing in water, landing - flare/touchdown - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot departed from a paved runway for a short flight to a remote lake in an amphibious float-equipped airplane to deliver supplies to a client. The pilot reported that he was transporting several loads of equipment to the lake, and failed to visually check the gear position while looking for a new unloading area. He also indicated that he was distracted when he had to reset the flaps, and by a minor malfunction with the airplane's GPS receiver. He said he forgot to raise the landing gear wheels, and landed on the lake with the wheels extended. During the landing touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over and received damage to the left wing and fuselage. The airplane is equipped with floats that have landing gear position lights installed on the instrument panel. The airplane also has a mirror enabling the pilot to visually observe the landing gear position. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2003, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N60TF, sustained substantial damage when it overturned during a wheels down landing on Salmon Lake, about 9 miles east-southeast of Sitka, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area nonscheduled cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Harris Aircraft Services Inc., Sitka. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport, about 1419. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 30, the director of operations for the operator reported the pilot was landing on Salmon Lake to deliver supplies to a client at the lake. The airplane departed from a paved runway at Stika. The landing gear wheels were not retracted, and upon landing on the lake, the airplane nosed over and received damage to the left wing and fuselage. The airplane remained floating inverted. The director of operations said that the airplane is equipped with Wipline floats that have landing gear position lights installed on the instrument panel. The airplane also has a mirror enabling the pilot to visually observe the landing gear position. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on June 2, the pilot reported that he was transporting several loads of equipment to the lake. He said he was distracted during the short flight when he had to reset the flaps, and by a minor malfunction with the airplane's GPS receiver. The pilot said he forgot to raise the landing gear after departing the Sitka Airport, and landed on the lake with the gear extended. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that during the approach to the lake, he performed a "GUMP" (gas, undercarriage, mixture, prop) check while looking for a new unloading area. He said he failed to visually check the gear position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60TF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60TF), registered now, S/N 1205, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: deHAVILLAND 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: 57-2563 - Airframe hours: 6060 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Harris Aircraft Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 18, 2003, 50 hours before - Departed: PASI, SITKA, AK - Destination: SITKA, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,720 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,750 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: PASI, 9 nm away ## 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 20030530037259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030530037259A), May 30, 2003: Dhav DHC2MK1, Salmon Lake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft flipped over on its longitudinal axis upon touchdown on water surface at Salmon Lake: pilot admitted to NTSB that he had forgotten to retract… 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.