# NTSB ANC05CA137: deHavilland DHC-2, N199BM, Igiugig, AK, September 7, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2005, 18:00 local (Sep 7, 2005, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Igiugig, AK
- Coordinates: 56.9594, -158.580139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9594&lon=-158.5801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62410/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA137

## Probable cause

The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff run when he was unable to lift one float off the water, which resulted in a subsequent collision with terrain.  A factor contributing to the accident was a river bank.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airline transport certificated pilot was departing eastbound, and up-river in a float-equipped airplane.  He said the airplane was on-step, and he attempted to lift one float out of the water during the takeoff run, but was unsuccessful.  He then decided to abort the takeoff by closing the engine throttle, and the airplane collided with the river bank.  The left float assembly was torn off the fuselage, and the airplane received structural damage to the fuselage.

## Factual narrative

On September 6, 2005, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N199BM, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a river bank during an aborted takeoff, about 18 miles south-southwest of Igiugig, 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 Air Taxi, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska.  The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  VFR company flight following procedures were in effect, and the flight was en route to Igiugig.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 7, the pilot reported that he was departing eastbound, and up-river, on the Alagnak River.  He said the airplane was on-step, and he attempted to lift one float out of the water during the takeoff run, but was unsuccessful.  He then decided to abort the takeoff by closing the engine throttle.  The pilot indicated that the airplane collided with the river bank, the left float assembly was torn off the fuselage, and the airplane received structural damage to the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N199BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N199BM), registered now, S/N 589, built 1953 (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: 589
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alaska Air Taxi LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Igiugig, AK
- Destination: IGG, Igiugig, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 22,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050906025749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050906025749A), Sep 6, 2005: Dhav DHC2MKI, Igiugig, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was the pilot in command of a DHC-2 beaver equipped with floats on a FAR part 91 flight. He elected to take off on a…

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.

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