# NTSB ANC21LA057: Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20, N9279Z, Coffman Cove, AK, July 9, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 9, 2021, 06:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Coffman Cove, AK
- Coordinates: 56.008959, -132.84709
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.0090&lon=-132.8471&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103467
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103467/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103467
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA057

## Probable cause

The pilot’s impact with a buoy on takeoff which resulted in a nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2800109), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2800109), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2800109), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that while accelerating on the water for takeoff, he impacted a green channel buoy and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, left lift strut and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident may have been prevented if he had taxied clear of the obstructions before initiating his takeoff.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9279Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9279Z), registered now, S/N 345, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2-L-20
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-l-20) (registry code 2800109) (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: 345
- Year built: 1952
- Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Southeast Aviation
- Registered owner: Snow Mountain Enterprises LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Ketchikan, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KCC, Coffman Cove, runway N/S, 5,000 × 2,000 ft, water
- Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,526 total, 7,962 in this make and model, 15,386 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: PAKW, 27 nm away
- METAR: PAKW 091453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC020 13/12 A3012 RMK AO2 RAE13 SLP198 P0001 60004 T01280117 53005 TSNO

## 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 20210709004279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210709004279A), Jul 9, 2021: Dehavilland DHC-2-L-20, Coffman Cove, AK, Substantial damage. The air carrier was conducting a part 91 repositioning flight back to the main base when, during departure from Coffman Cove seaplane base, shortly after…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103467. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 18 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12626033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20dms_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12627329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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