# NTSB ANC87FA118: De Havilland DHC-2 MK-1, N5342G, Elmendorf Afb, AK, August 9, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1987, 11:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Elmendorf Afb, AK
- Coordinates: 61.270923, -149.790405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2709&lon=-149.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87FA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87FA118

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not understood, dual student
  - directional control - not maintained (cause)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ELECTED TO DEMONSTRATE A NO-FLAP TAKEOFF WITH CALM/GLASSY WATER CONDS. AFTER THE FLOAT PLANE HAD ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 55 TO 60 KTS WITHOUT BECOMING AIRBORNE, HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN & THE FLOAT PLANE SETTLED OFF STEP, BUT THE FORWARD MOMENTUM CAUSED THE ACFT TO CONT STRAIGHT AHEAD. HE CALLED FOR 'RUDDERS,'  MEANING WATER RUDDERS, BUT THE STUDENT REACTED BY ASSISTING IN APPLYING NORMAL RUDDER. THE WATER RUDDER HANDLE WAS LOCATED AT THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL & WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE CFI, WHO WAS IN THE RGT SEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FLOAT PLANE IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE ENG SHUT DOWN AT AN ESTD SPEED OF 7 TO 10 KTS. THE CFI STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR 'WATER RUDDERS.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5342G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-2 MK-1
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 541708 (854)
- Airframe hours: 6929
- Engines: P&W R-985-39A 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 1987, 15 hours before
- Departed: SML
- Flight plan: Military VFR
- Airport: Six Mile Lake, runway 27, 4,000 × 80 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,851 total, 480 in this make and model, 3,245 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °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 19870809043219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870809043219A), Aug 9, 1987: Dhav DHC2MK1, Elmendorf Afb, AK, Substantial damage. Demonstrating a no flap takeoff from glassy water a mistake on part of the CFI. Aircraft struck trees and the shore

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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