# NTSB ANC89LA021: de Havilland DHC-6, N525EH, Homer, AK, December 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1988, 08:35 local (12:35 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.399398, -151.319793 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3994&lon=-151.3198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5150/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA021

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING, THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO TAXI TO THE RAMP VIA THE SOUTH TAXIWAY, SINCE THIS WAS THE ONLY TAXIWAY THAT HAD BEEN SNOW PLOWED. ONLY ABOUT A 12 FT WIDTH OF THE 80 FT WIDE TAXIWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED. THE CLEARED PORTION WAS ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY, NEXT TO A PERIMETER FENCE. AS THE PLT WAS TAXIING, HIS VISION WAS RESTRICTED BY DARKNESS & BLOWING SNOW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE POST WHERE THE PERIMETER FENCE ROSE IN ELEVATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N525EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N525EH-2001-08-23), registration cancelled 2001-08-23, S/N 25 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25
- Airframe hours: 19343
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Era Aviation, doing business as Era Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Era Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 21, 1988, 96 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOM, Homer, runway 21, 7,401 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,800 total, 2,700 in this make and model, 4,850 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOM, 5 nm away

## 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 19881204052339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881204052339A), Dec 4, 1988: Dhav DHC61, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Wing struck a fence while taxiing on a narrow plowed taxiway. Area plowed was on edge of taxiway. Blowing snow.

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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