# NTSB ANC93LA127: Beech D18S, N2053D, Kodiak, AK, July 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1993, 14:08 local (22:08 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.789527, -152.400238 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7895&lon=-152.4002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2388 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2388/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA127 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR WAS THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER ON ONE ENGINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,partial - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - lubricating system,oil tank - ruptured - fluid,oil - exhaustion - 1 engine - failure,partial (contributing factor) - Ditching, descent - emergency - terrain condition - water - climb - not possible, pilot in command - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, AND WHILE CRUISING AT ABOUT 800 FEET AGL, THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL PRESSURE BEGAN DECREASING AND THE TEMPERATURE INCREASING. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER THE RIGHT ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND BACKFIRING, SO HE SHUT IT DOWN. MEANWHILE HE MISTAKENLY TURNED INTO A SMALL BAY INSTEAD OF TOWARD HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TERRAIN AND HOUSES ON HIS LEFT HE ATTEMPTED A SLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE GOT INTO A LOW AIRSPEED BUFFET, AND THE PILOT THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TO GO INVERTED, HE CUT POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE, LEVELED THE WINGS, AND DITCHED IN THE SHALLOW WATER NEAR THE SHORELINE. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT DURING THE AFTER TAKEOFF GEAR RETRACTION THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR RETRACTION CHAIN BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT ENGINE'S OIL TANK, WHICH ALLOWED ALL THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH EITHER OF THE TWO ENGINES. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 1993, at 1408 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Beech D18S airplane, N2053D, operated by Fresh Alaskan Seafoods Transported, ditched in shallow water adjoining the beach about 2 miles northwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Kodiak Municipal Airport at 1330. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. Shortly after the accident, during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following in part: "Approximately 10 minutes after taking off from Kodiak, and while cruising at about 800 feet agl, the right engine oil pressure began decreasing, and the oil temperature began increasing. I did a 180 degree turn and headed back toward Kodiak. A couple minutes later the right engine started running rough and backfiring, so I shut it down. Then I turned into what I thought was the channel to Kodiak, but it was actually Mill Bay. I realized that I might not be able to clear the houses and high terrain on the left so I started a slow right turn. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude and slowly descended to about 50 feet. I realized that I did not have sufficient room to complete the turn in the bay. I started getting low speed buffeting and I thought the airplane was about to go inverted, so I reduced the throttle on the left engine and leveled the wings in preparation for ditching in the shallow water along the beach. A second later the right wing tip hit the water and the airplane cartwheeled." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2053D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2053D-2002-12-02), registration cancelled 2002-12-02, S/N A-947, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D18S - Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A-947 - Airframe hours: 6400 - Engines: P&W R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Louvring, Frederick S., doing business as Fresh Ak Seafoods Trans. - Registered owner: Kindblade, Stanley J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 1993, 2 hours before - Departed: ADQ - Destination: 09AK, LARSEN BAY, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ADQ, 7 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 19930725025349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930725025349A), Jul 25, 1993: Beech D18S, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. Lost oil right engine shut it down. Unable hold altitude. Ditched. Right gear chain drive broke punctured oil tank. 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.