# NTSB ANC22LA056: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1, N4040W, Bettles, AK, July 15, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2022, 13:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK · River landing on floats
- Coordinates: 66.91541, -151.52498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9154&lon=-151.5250&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 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): 105523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105523/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105523
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA056

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during taxi operations on a riverbank with shallow water.

## 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)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after landing on a river with low water levels, the left float dug into the shallow water, and the airplane turned hard left into the riverbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4040W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4040W), registered now, S/N 1147, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1
- 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: 1147
- Year built: 1957
- Engines: Pratt Whitney R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Jespersen Aircraft Services Inc, doing business as Brooks Range Aviation
- Registered owner: Jespersen Aircraft Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PABT, Bettles, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,500 total, 70.9 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days, 65.5 in the last 30 days, 9.1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 1974.00 inHg
- METAR: SA	15/07/2022 11:53->	
METAR PABT 151153Z 03004KT 10SM FEW080 BKN100 12/04 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP075 T01170039 10161 20117 58005=

## 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 20220715011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220715011049A), Jul 15, 2022: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. Airman attempted river landing in DHC-2 ases [privacy data omitted] while operating part 135 . Pilot lost directional control while "on step" and impacted left…

## Other investigations on N4040W (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 ANC06LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA109), Aug 2, 2006: de Havilland DHC-2 MK.1 (N4040W), Anaktuvuk Pass, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff at his predetermined reference point, which resulted in a collision with the shore during takeoff-initial climb, and structural damage to the airplane.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105523. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14333993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22La056%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14333078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA056-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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