# NTSB ANC88LA147: De Havilland DHC-2, N53546, Zacher Bay, AK, September 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1988, 18:50 local (Sep 24, 1988, 02:50 UTC)
- Place: Zacher Bay, AK
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5088
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5088/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA147

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN ON THE WATER, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, DUE TO THE HIGH WIND CONDITION. THE AIRPLANE'S WING TIP STRUCK THE WATER CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER ON ITS BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N53546 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 887
- Airframe hours: 7837
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Uyak Air Serivce Inc., doing business as Uyak Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Uyak Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1988, 166 hours before
- Destination: ADQ, KODIAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,115 total, 658 in this make and model, 8,800 as pilot in command, 394 in the last 90 days, 96 in the last 30 days, 47 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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.
