- Date
- July 26, 2022, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 4 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9776RDe Havilland DHC2
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20220726007539A
- Case key
- 105639
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 takeoff in gusting wind conditions which resulted in the wing exceeding its critical angle of attack, a loss of control and impact with the water.
Findings · 4
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 reported that, he was departing in the float-equipped airplane in strong gusty wind conditions. After accelerating on the water for about 3 seconds, the airplane suddenly became airborne and crabbed into the wind about 60° to 90° from the intended takeoff path and started to climb as it continued to track away from the intended flight path. As the climb continued, the airplane stalled and impacted the water in a nose low attitude which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9776R
- Reported as
- De Havilland DHC2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1126
- Built
- 1957
- Airframe hours
- 16,072.7
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney R985 AN 14-B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 135
- Operator
- Alaska Skyways Inc, doing business as Regal Air
- Registered owner
- Northstar Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 25, 2022
- Destination
- King Salmon, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- LHD · Lake Hood, runway 14, 5,400 × 150 ft, water
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather
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
- 41
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 18, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,709 total · 142 in this make and model · 1,623 as pilot in command · 251 in the last 90 days · 94 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- PALH
- METAR
- PALH 261753Z 20010G16KT 150V230 10SM CLR 13/04 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP226 T01280044 10128 20106 51020
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 11, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.5 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.