# NTSB ANC81DA099: Dehavilland DHC-2, N1453Z, Cordova, AK, August 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 21, 1981
- Place: Cordova, AK · CORDOVA, AK
- Location: 60.5428° N, 145.7575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cordova, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5428&lon=-145.7575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124541
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DA099
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DA099

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1854  81/8/21  NR.CORDOVA,AK         DEHAVILLAND DHC-2   CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1245                    N1453Z              PX-  0  0  6  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 42, 4171 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            658 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FIELD LOCATION
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          CORDOVA,AK                  RETURN                      CORDOVA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- R X-WND GSTG 35KTS.STRUCK SANDBAR ON L SIDE IN NARROW PART OF CHANNEL.FLOAT EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1453Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Field Location

## 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 19810821050979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810821050979A), Aug 21, 1981: Dhav DHC2*, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. During takeoff wind drifted float plane into sandbar causing it to flip inverted.

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.
