# NTSB ANC04CA114: de Havilland DHC-2, N1018D, Willow, AK, September 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2004, 20:00 local (Sep 25, 2004, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 62.083332, -149.516662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0833&lon=-149.5167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60213/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an on-ground collision with trees during the landing roll. A factor associated with the accident were trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot was landing at a remote river slough. After touchdown the left wing collided with a stand of trees. The airplane pivoted to the left, and the airplane's floats subsequently collided with the river bank. The airplane sustained structural damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2004, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N1018D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during landing at an off airport site located about 35 miles northeast of Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Susitna Air Service, Inc., of Willow. The certificated commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Kashwitna Lake Seaplane Base, Willow, about 1940. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 25, the pilot said he was landing at a remote river slough, adjacent to the Kashwitna River. He said that after touchdown the left wing collided with a stand of trees. The airplane pivoted to the left, and the airplane's floats subsequently collided with the river bank. The airplane sustained structural damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1018D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1018D), registered now, S/N 293, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2) (registry code 2800108) (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: 293 - Airframe hours: 14309.5 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Susitna Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Paul & Susan Englund - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 2004, 42.1 hours before - Departed: AK34, Willow, AK - Destination: Willow, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 7, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 337 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 20040924024079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040924024079A), Sep 24, 2004: Dhav DHC2*, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing, after the floats were in the water, the left wing contacted a tree and swung the aircraft toward the river bank and finally up onto the… 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.