- Date
- July 2, 2012, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1018ADehavilland Beaver DHC-2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-05
- FAA report
- 20120702014939A
- Case key
- 84174
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 failure to maintain directional control during a step turn on floats.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that he planned to step taxi while making a left turn and then takeoff. He applied takeoff power to get the airplane on step, then reduced power, and started a turn to the left. The airplane turned to the left sharper than he anticipated. He applied right rudder and reduced left aileron. As the turn started to straighten out, the airplane’s right wing struck the water and sustained substantial damage. There were no preaccident mechanical issues with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a float-equipped airplane reported that he planned to step taxi while making a left turn, and then takeoff. He applied takeoff power to get the airplane on step, then reduced power, and started a turn to left. The airplane turned to the left sharper than he anticipated. He applied right rudder and reduced left aileron. As the turn started to straighten out, the airplane’s right wing struck the water, sustaining substantial damage. There were no preaccident mechanical issues with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1018A
- Reported as
- Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 178
- Airframe hours
- 31,310
- Engine
- P&W R-985 SERIES, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- S & S Aircraft Leasing Inc, doing business as Taquan Air
- Registered owner
- S & S Aircraft Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 17, 2012
- Departed
- Ketchikan, AK
- Destination
- PAKT · Ketchikan, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 3, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,925 total · 110 in this make and model · 4,531 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- PAKT, 40 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.