# NTSB ANC89LA168: de Havilland DHC-6, N851TB, Sleepy Bay, AK, September 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 1989, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Sleepy Bay, AK
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5263/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA168

## Probable cause

SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (WATER CONDITION) BY THE PILOT. THE ROUGH WATER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Other gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,float assembly - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N851TB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N851TB-1989-11-17), registration cancelled 1989-11-17, S/N 201 (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: 201
- Airframe hours: 25821
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 495 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Sound Adventures
- Registered owner: Red Baron Leasing Co. Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 1989, 13 hours before
- Departed: MCPHERSON BAY, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,650 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 75° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890919035579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890919035579A), Sep 19, 1989: Dhav STCDHC6, Sleepy Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Damaged float structure landing in large swells in bay. Evacuated but wave and wind demolished aircraft on a beach.

## Other investigations on N851TB (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC79DA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DA036), Jan 28, 1979: Dehavilland DHC-6 (N851TB), Anaktuvuk Pass, AK, substantial damage

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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