- Date
- August 15, 2003, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- King Salmon, AK
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N11GAde Havilland DHC-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030815037099A
- Case key
- 57860
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an overrun and an on ground/water collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was a tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane on a small lake, and due to terrain clearance, a downwind approach was required. The pilot estimated the wind to be about 5 to 7 knots. Just after landing, he determined that he would not be able to stop the airplane before reaching the shoreline, so he applied full left rudder in an attempt to avoid the collision with the shore. During the turn, as the airplane came off of the step, the airplane's right float struck the shore. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing, and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 15, 2003, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N11GA, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the shoreline during landing at a remote lake, located about 56 miles southeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 business flight was operated in support of a sport fish guiding business. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was en route from another remote lake at the time of the accident.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 18, the pilot related that he was attempting to land on a small lake, and due to terrain clearance, a downwind approach was required. The pilot estimated the wind to be about 5 to 7 knots. He said that just after landing, he determined that he would not be able to stop the airplane before reaching the shoreline, so he applied full left rudder in an attempt to avoid the collision with the shore. He reported that during the turn, as the airplane came off of the step, the airplane's right float struck the shore. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing, and right wing lift strut.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Neither the operator, nor the pilot, submitted an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11GA
- Reported as
- de Havilland DHC-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1111
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Alaska Anglers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Ultimate Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AKN · King Salmon, AK
- Destination
- AKN · King Salmon, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.