# NTSB ANC22LA082: Dehavilland Beaver U-6A, N65223, Kokhanok, AK, August 3, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2022, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Kokhanok, AK · along shoreline of lake
- Coordinates: 59.437017, -154.85829
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4370&lon=-154.8583&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 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): 106110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106110/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106110
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA082

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff operations.

## Findings

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

- [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 U-6A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 BEAVER U-6A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2800105), [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 BEAVER U-6A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2800105), [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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The operator reported that the pilot did not taxi back far enough from the shoreline before attempting to takeoff from the water. The pilot was planning to takeoff towards the shoreline and then make a right turn and follow the edge of the shoreline. The pilot did not have enough directional control to make the right turn to follow the shoreline and subsequently the float plane ran aground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65223](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65223), registered now, S/N 55-4602, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER U-6A
- Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-u-6a) (registry code 2800105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 55-4602
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 10559.2
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney 985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Rainbow River Lodge Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Rainbow River Lodge Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2022
- Departed: PAIL, Iliamna, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 8,225 total, 4,530 in this make and model, 114 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Observed at: PAIL, 16 nm away
- METAR: TAF PAIL 032334Z 0400/0424 10015G23KT P6SM -RA FEW025 OVC050
 TEMPO 0403/0407 OVC025 FM040800 09013G22KT P6SM -RA OVC050 FM041300 08012G20KT P6SM OVC050 FM041700 06010KT P6SM
 OVC060=

## Other investigations on N65223 (2)

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 ANC24LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA068), Jul 20, 2024: Dehavilland Beaver U-6A (N65223), Pedro Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.
- [NTSB ANC02LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA044), Jun 8, 2002: de Havilland DHC-2 (N65223), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind while taxiing, resulting in the right wing striking the water. A contributing factor in the accident was the presence of a crosswind.

## 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=106110. 11.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14623755&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA082%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14623684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA082-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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