# NTSB ANC78FA078: Dehavilland DHC-2, N37741, Whittier, AK, September 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 13, 1978
- Place: Whittier, AK · WHITTIER, AK
- Location: 60.7771° N, 148.6659° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whittier, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7771&lon=-148.6659&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78FA078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78FA078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4383  78/9/13  NR.WHITTIER,AK        DEHAVILLAND DHC-2   CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 3125
        TIME - 1130                    N37741              PX-  5  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 106 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ANCHORAGE,AK               WHITTIER,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      53
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED NO ANT FOR ELT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N37741 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780913043549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780913043549A), Sep 13, 1978: Dhav DHC2*, Whittier, AK, Substantial damage, 5 fatal. Float equipped. No antenna for ELT.

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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