# NTSB ANC25LA074: Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1, N109KS, Nelson Lagoon, AK, July 11, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 11, 2025, 03:00 local (11:00 UTC) - Place: Nelson Lagoon, AK - Coordinates: 55.903279, -161.73183 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9033&lon=-161.7318&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 200536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200536/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200536 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA074 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a creek bank while maneuvering to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2800102), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); 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 According to the pilot, while on short final to land on a remote beach, he misjudged the airplane’s height above a creek bank. The landing gear contacted the bank, and subsequently, the right main gear leg separated, and the right wing contacted the ground, the airplane came to rest upright. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N109KS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N109KS), registered now, S/N 1295, 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: 1295 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 17749.9 - Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Rs Specialties LLC - Registered owner: Rs Specialties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2025 - Departed: N/A, Nelson Lagoon, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NONE, Remote Beach - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: PAOU, 20 nm away - METAR: PAOU 111056Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM BKN031 OVC041 09/09 A2967 RMK AO2 SLP047 T00890089 ## 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 20250711011189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250711011189A), Jul 11, 2025: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, Nelson Lagoon, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot misjudged his landing height, aircraft tires clipped creek bank causing the right gear leg to collapse. Aircraft settled on right wing and propeller… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200536. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19113937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA074%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19113568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.