# NTSB ANC21LA062: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, N68080, King Salmon, AK, July 19, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2021, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: King Salmon, AK · 1.5 miles northwest of Wolverine Lake
- Coordinates: 58.822224, -155.57383 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8222&lon=-155.5738&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA062

## Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the floatplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2808006), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while in a climb, approaching a mountain pass, he “felt” that the floatplane was not climbing sufficiently to safely clear the terrain. He extended the flaps and initiated a turn to the right, and “feeling a stall and loss of control imminent”, he applied full power. Subsequently, the floatplane stalled and impacted the ground sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the floatplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68080](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68080), registered now, S/N 694, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 MK 1
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2808006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-an-3) (registry code 51660, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 694
- Year built: 1954
- Engines: P & W R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 135
- Operator: Branch River Air Service, Inc., doing business as Branch River air
- Registered owner: River Front Akn LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Lower American Creek, AK
- Destination: Hammersly Lake, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 7,750 as pilot in command, 79.2 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: PAKN, 35 nm away
- METAR: PAKN 191954Z 13006KT 10SM CLR 19/15 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP171 T01940150 $

## 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 20210719006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210719006799A), Jul 19, 2021: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated the following: Clear sky No wind Acft was 400 pound under gross weight Flies in and out of area six to seven times a year There was nothing…

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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