# NTSB ANC85LA101: de Havilland DHC-2, N99838, Bering River, AK, June 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1985, 12:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Bering River, AK
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4504/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA101

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT DURING A 15 TO 20 MIN PERIOD AFTER HE HAD LANDED, THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED GREATLY. HE MANAGED TO TAXI THE FLOAT PLANE TO AN AREA WHERE HE COULD TAKEOFF INTO THE WIND. AS THE ACFT WAS ON THE STEP FOR TAKEOFF, THE LEFT WING LIFTED AS IF IT WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND. SUSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE WATER & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AT 40 GUSTING TO 50 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99838](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99838-1989-02-16), registration cancelled 1989-02-16, S/N 792 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-u-6a) (registry code 2800105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 792
- Airframe hours: 9856
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Chisum Flying Service
- Registered owner: Chisum Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 1985, 31 hours before
- Destination: CDV, CORDOVA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,695 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 4,550 as pilot in command, 181 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 40 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850620026599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850620026599A), Jun 20, 1985: Dhav DHC2*, Bering River, AK, Destroyed. Gust of crosswind caused wing to lift during water takeoff. Aircraft veered and nose went down.

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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