# NTSB ANC88LA137: de Havilland DHC-2, N67207, Ruth Lake, AK, September 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1988, 16:00 local (Sep 12, 1988, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Ruth Lake, AK
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA137

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE AIR TAXI PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS FLOAT-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A REMOTE MOUNTAIN LAKE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN WITH A TAILWIND COMPONENT OF APPROXIMATELY 5 KNOTS, BUT THAT THE TAILWIND INCREASED RAPIDLY DURING A GUST, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO DECELERATE MUCH LESS QUICKLY THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE BEACH WITH ENOUGH FORWARD VELOCITY TO CAUSE IT TO NOSE OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N67207 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 305
- Airframe hours: 8237
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Branch River Air Service
- Registered owner: Hartley Inc/Branch River Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 1988, 60 hours before
- Departed: AKN, KING SALMON, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,900 total, 2,700 in this make and model, 6,144 as pilot in command, 369 in the last 90 days, 127 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 7 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19880911038239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880911038239A), Sep 11, 1988: Dhav DHC2*, Ruth Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Failed to decelerate on downwind water landing. Ran up on a beach and nosed over.

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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