# NTSB ANC24LA068: Dehavilland Beaver U-6A, N65223, Pedro Bay, AK, July 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 20, 2024, 07:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Pedro Bay, AK - Coordinates: 59.73666, -153.92651 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7367&lon=-153.9265&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: 6 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 ANC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194727/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194727 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was sun glare. ## 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) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2800105), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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 pilot reported that, during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane, he was on step and maneuvered the airplane around a bend in the river, facing into the sun. The pilot reported that he was unable to see due to the glare of the sun. The airplane drifted to the left and the left wingtip caught bushes on the left bank of the river, pulling the airplane up onto shore which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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: 10927.4 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-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 15, 2024, 4.3 hours before - Destination: Kokhanok, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,617 total, 415 in this make and model, 3,460 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: PAIL, 30 nm away - METAR: PAIL 201453Z 32003KT 10SM CLR 11/08 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP224 T01060078 53004 $ ## 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 20240720008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240720008549A), Jul 20, 2024: Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, Pedro Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot states that the aircraft wind screen was cleaned prior to leaving the dock to remove the condensation that had formed overnight. He taxied down river… ## 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 ANC22LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA082), Aug 3, 2022: Dehavilland Beaver U-6A (N65223), Kokhanok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff operations. - [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 April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194727. 2.6 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=17756521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17756603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20Array-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.