# NTSB ANC92LA060: De Havilland DHC-2, N64396, Port Walter, AK, January 2, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1992, 13:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Port Walter, AK
- Coordinates: 56.386427, -134.73014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.3864&lon=-134.7301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5712/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA060

## Probable cause

THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE EXCEEDED.  A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AT THE BEGINNING OF AN UNSCHEDULED CARGO FLIGHT WITH A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, THE AIRPLANE'S FLOATS STRUCK A WAVE JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FLYING WIRES ON BOTH FLOATS BROKE LOOSE AND STRUCK THE AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO ITS FINAL DESTINATION FOR A LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N64396 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 70
- Engines: P&W R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Bellows, Kenneth A, doing business as Bellair, Inc.
- Registered owner: Bellows, Kenneth A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Destination: SIT, SITKA, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PWR, Port Walter

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °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 19920102002039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920102002039A), Jan 2, 1992: Dhav DHC2*, Port Walter, AK, Substantial damage. Floats struck a large wave on lift off. Was able to continue flight. Found structural damage from float wires.

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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