# NTSB ANC92FA116: De Havilland DHC-2 Mark 1, N67151, Dillingham, AK, July 30, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1992, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Dillingham, AK
- Coordinates: 58.819282, -157.860076 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8193&lon=-157.8601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 16, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92FA116

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAYED DECISION IN REVERSING COURSE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE MANEUVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND A LOW CEILING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(hypoglycemia/diet), pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction

## Analysis

THE DESTINATION CAMP IS LOCATED ABOUT 50 MI SW OF THE DEPARTURE LODGE, AND IS SEPARATED BY MOUNTAINS WITH SOME PEAKS OVER 4,000 FT ASL. THE GENERAL AREA WEATHER INCLUDED LOW CEILINGS. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HE OBSERVED THE YOUTH CREEK WEATHER 'BETTER THAN 400 FEET...', AND TOLD THE PILOT THAT IT APPEARED GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE FLEW UP YOUTH CREEK HE COULD SEE THAT THE PASS WAS CLOSED BY LOW CLOUDS AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE PILOT STATED HE 'MADE A HARD STEEP TURN, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED...' THE PILOT SAID THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 800 FT CEILING AND VISIBILITY OF 1 MI. WHEN THE PILOT WAS ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, HE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETIC CONDITION. HIS MEDICAL RECORDS CONTAIN NO EVIDENCE OF, AND THE PILOT DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF, ANY PRE-ACCIDENT DIABETIC CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67151](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67151-1998-09-08), registration cancelled 1998-09-08, S/N 900 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-2 MARK 1 (DHC-2 MARK)
- Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2800102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 900
- Airframe hours: 7892
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald R. Mcmillian, doing business as Bristol Bay Lodge
- Registered owner: Ronald R. Mcmillian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1991, 125 hours before
- Departed: BRISTOL BAY LDG, AK
- Destination: TOGIAK RIVER CP, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,842 total, 550 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °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 19920730028209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920730028209A), Jul 30, 1992: Dhav DHC2MK1, Dillingham, AK, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Unable to get through pass due to clouds. Stalled in steep turn trying to reverse course.

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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