# NTSB ANC09LA072: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2, N68088, Iliamna, AK, July 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2009, 09:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.934722, -156.421112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9347&lon=-156.4211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Operations) - NTSB case key (mKey): 74354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area with an unfavorable wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a river, downstream, in a float-equipped airplane, on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, on demand charter flight. He said that wind conditions were calm just before starting his southerly takeoff run. Just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed to about 20 feet above the water, it stopped climbing as it neared the departure end of the site. The airplane then descended into an area of tree-covered terrain, and came to rest about 400 feet from the bank of the river. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and said that after the accident, he noticed occasional gusts of wind from the northwest. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2009, about 0940 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 (Beaver) airplane, N68088, sustained substantial damage when it collided with tree-covered terrain after takeoff, about 62 miles west of Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on demand charter flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned and operated by Iliamna Air Taxi, Inc., Iliamna. The commercial pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was returning to the operator's base in Iliamna. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 22, the pilot related that before departing from the remote riverside fishing camp, he assessed the wind and water conditions before departing to the south and downstream. He said that wind conditions on the surface of the water were calm just before starting his takeoff run. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed to about 20 feet above the water, it stopped climbing as it neared the departure end of the site. He said as he attempted to climb the airplane, it passed over an area of tree-covered terrain at the end of the site, and then it began to gradually descend into the trees. According to the pilot, the airplane collided with a stand of trees, and came to rest about 400 feet from the bank of the river. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and he noted that after the accident he noticed occasional gusts of wind from the northwest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68088](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68088), registered now, S/N 1197, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-u-6a) (registry code 2800105) (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: 1197 - Airframe hours: 9376 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Iliamna Air Taxi Inc - Registered owner: Iliamna Air Taxi Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 2009, 75 hours before - Departed: Iliamna, AK - Destination: ILI, Iliamna, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 5,700 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20090722047719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090722047719A), Jul 22, 2009: Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot departed downriver into what he believed was a light quartering headwind. During climb out the aircraft encountered a previously undetected tail… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74354. 684 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.