# NTSB ANC04LA010: deHAVILLAND DHC-2, N13VF, Kodiak, AK, November 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 2003, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.849998, -153.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.8500&lon=-153.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58396/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA010 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance, which resulted in a collision with terrain during the final landing approach. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis During an on-demand air taxi flight, the airline transport certificated pilot was preparing to land an amphibious float-equipped airplane near a cabin that was located on the shore of a coastal bay. A 10 to 15 knot wind was blowing from the bay toward the land, and the pilot decided to approach over land. As the airplane descended over a small creek bed, adjacent to a hill, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended rapidly. The left wing collided with alder trees which spun the airplane 180 degrees. The right wing and float assembly were torn off the airplane. The closest official weather observation station, located 30 miles away, was reporting calm wind. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2003, about 0935 Alaska standard time, an amphibious float-equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N13VF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during the final approach phase of landing at Viekoda Bay, about 30 miles west-southwest of Kodiak, 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 Andrew Airways Inc., Kodiak. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Kodiak Airport about 0915. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 29, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was preparing to land near a cabin at Viekoda Bay, located on the west side of Kodiak Island. The director of operations said that a 10 to 15 knot wind was blowing from the bay toward the land, and the pilot decided to approach over land. The pilot told the director of operations that as the airplane descended over a small creek bed, adjacent to a hill, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended rapidly. The left wing collided with alder trees which spun the airplane 180 degrees. The right wing and float assembly were torn off the airplane. The closest official weather observation station, located on the east side of the island, is Kodiak. At 0853, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 27 degrees F; dew point, 16 degrees F; altimeter, 29.73 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N13VF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: deHAVILLAND DHC-2 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1613 - Airframe hours: 14953 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Andrew Airways Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2003, 76 hours before - Departed: PADQ, Kodiak, AK - Destination: Viekoda Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 28, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 7,103 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 5,800 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: PADQ, 30 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 20031129032279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031129032279A), Nov 29, 2003: Dhav DHC2MKI, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot circled the water landing area two times to make sure the area was clear before landing the seaplane in the bay. The pilot reported the wind… 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.