# NTSB ANC87LA045: de Havilland DHC-2, N67688, Kotzebue, AK, March 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1987, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Coordinates: 67.24089, -161.189575 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2409&lon=-161.1896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4828
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4828/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA045

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - whiteout (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A COMPLETE WHITEOUT CONDITION AND DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE FROZEN LAKE HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67688](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67688), registered now, S/N 1146, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2) (registry code 2808001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6SER TP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6ser-tp) (registry code 52045, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 564419
- Airframe hours: 10817
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Philip E. Driver
- Registered owner: Philip E. Driver
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1987, 14 hours before
- Departed: OTZ, KOTZEBUE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,300 total, 1,199 in this make and model, 7,200 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19870308005459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870308005459A), Mar 8, 1987: Dhav DHC2MK2, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Encountered whiteout conditions. During the precautionary landing, the aircraft dragged a wingtip.

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.