# NTSB ANC81FA093: Dehavilland DHC-2, N31618, Ketchikan, AK, August 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 7, 1981
- Place: Ketchikan, AK · KETCHIKAN, AK
- Location: 55.3571° N, 131.6746° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ketchikan, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.3571&lon=-131.6746&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81FA093
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA093

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3640   81/8/7  NR.KETCHIKAN,AK       DEHAVILLAND DHC-2   CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 1671
        TIME - 1030                    N31618              PX-  0  4  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 541 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          KETCHIKAN,AK                RETURN                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          OTHER
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED.CO FLT PLN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31618](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31618), registered now, S/N 858, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2
- Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-u-6a) (registry code 2800105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810807089779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810807089779A), Aug 7, 1981: Dhav DHC2*, Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed. Pilot flew into fog and aircraft collided with hill during attempt to climb out of fog.

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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