# NTSB ANC24LA037: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1, N5343G, Fairbanks, AK, May 28, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 27, 2024, 16:47 local (May 28, 2024, 00:47 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.806708, -147.7803
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8067&lon=-147.7803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- 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 - Fairbanks FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194324/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194324
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA037

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

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

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff while on a post-maintenance check flight, the airplane’s fuel pressure gauge began to fluctuate. Subsequently, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing that resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator, which were both liberated from the airplane during impact. A post-accident inspection revealed that the pilot had selected a fuel tank containing an inadequate amount of fuel prior to takeoff. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5343G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5343G), registered now, S/N 862, built 1958 (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: 862
- Year built: 1958
- Airframe hours: 17226.9
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Coyote Air LLC
- Registered owner: Coyote Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2024, 0 hours before
- Departed: MTF, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: MTF, Fairbanks, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: MTF, Metro Field, runway 24, 4,000 × 100 ft, gravel
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,100 total, 11,970 in this make and model, 20,080 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observed at: PAFA, 2 nm away
- METAR: PAFA 272353Z 30007KT 10SM BKN060 BKN080 18/04 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP060 T01780039 10183 20128 50000

## 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 20240527004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240527004269A), May 27, 2024: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot took off from the airport and reached approximately 300FT. The fuel pressure began to fluctuate so the pilot turned the aircraft back towards the…

## Other investigations on N5343G (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 ANC01LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA152), Sep 16, 2001: de Havilland DHC-2 (N5343G), Arctic Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. A factor in the accident was rock(s)/boulders in the area of takeoff.
- [NTSB ANC96LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA164), Sep 24, 1996: de Havilland DHC-2 (N5343G), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove all snow and ice from the airplane prior to takeoff.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194324. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17232052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17232318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-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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