# NTSB ANC18LA047: Dehavilland DHC-2, N5221G, Dillingham, AK, June 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2018, 17:30 local (Jun 23, 2018, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 59.920276, -158.184997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9203&lon=-158.1850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97567/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97567 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was landing a float-equipped airplane in gusty, tailwind conditions on a remote river. After touching down on the water, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind turned the tail of the airplane about 45° to the left. The airplane then impacted the riverbank, continued onto the shore, and struck trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2018, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N5221G, sustained substantial damage during an impact with trees and terrain, following a loss of directional control during landing, about 53 miles northwest of Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules personal flight when the accident occurred. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the three passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Naknek Lake, Alaska (5NK) about 1645. According to the pilot, he was landing with a tailwind on a remote river. After touching down on the water, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind turned the tail of the airplane about 45° to the left. The airplane then impacted the river bank, continued onto the shore, and struck trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5221G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5221G), registered now, S/N 667, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2800102) (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: 667 - Year built: 1954 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2018, 4 hours before - Departed: 5NK, NAKNEK, AK - Destination: Dillingham, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review June 8, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PADL, 53 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 20180623008799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180623008799A), Jun 23, 2018: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. ?On June 25 we flew from king salmon to the tikchik lake area with the intention of landing on the noyukuk river near the royal coachman lodge. ?Weather… ## Other investigations on N5221G (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC00LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA074), Jun 22, 2000: de Havilland DHC-2 (N5221G), King Salmon, AK, minor damage. Probable cause: The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of the other airplane, and the inadequate radio traffic advisories by the pilots of both airplanes. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97567. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 837 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.