# NTSB ANC94LA142: de Havilland DHC2, N1433Z, Whittier, AK, September 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1994, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Whittier, AK - Coordinates: 60.849987, -148.030303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8500&lon=-148.0303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA142 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. AN INITIAL TAIL WIND AND LATER A CROSSWIND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - other - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE IN A SMALL HARBOR ADJACENT TO AN OCEAN CHANNEL. THE ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT WAS TRANSPORTING FIVE PASSENGERS TO A REMOTE CABIN. DUE TO LARGE OCEAN SWELLS IN THE CHANNEL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN THE HARBOR AND DURING THE LANDING RUNOUT, ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND THAT EXTENDED THE WATER RUN. AS THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABEAM A BREAK IN THE SHORELINE AT THE HARBOR ENTRANCE, IT WAS HIT BY AN UNEXPECTED GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TOWARD THE RIGHT. ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BEACH AREA AT THE NORTH END OF THE HARBOR. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1994, at 1200 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped DeHavilland DHC2 Beaver airplane, N1433Z, registered to and operated by Rust's Flying Service of Anchorage, Alaska, collided with terrain while landing in a small harbor area of the Culross passage, approximately 18 miles east of Whittier, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot-in-command and his five revenue passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The on-demand revenue flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135, last departed Anchorage and the intended destination was the area in which the accident occurred. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was in effect. Due to large ocean swells in the Culross channel, the pilot elected to land in a small harbor adjacent to the channel. The pilot reported that during the landing runout, the plane encountered a tailwind that extended the water run. As the airplane traveled abeam a break in the shoreline at the harbor entrance, it was hit by an unexpected gust of wind from the right which effectively put the plane in a right turn. All efforts to control the turning (full left rudder, flaps up, water rudders down, throttle idle) were to no avail and the plane impacted a beach area at the north end of the harbor, bow first. All right side float struts were broken and the fuselage was essentially resting upon the right float. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1433Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1433Z), registered now, S/N 595 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland-Kenmore DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-kenmore-dhc-2) (registry code 2805001) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 595 - Airframe hours: 13150 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rust'S Flying Service - Registered owner: Rust'S Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 1994, 85 hours before - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Culross Passage ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,501 total, 4,864 in this make and model, 9,439 as pilot in command, 366 in the last 90 days, 116 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - 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 19940917041169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940917041169A), Sep 17, 1994: Dhav DHC2*, Whittier, AK, Substantial damage. Windshear on water landing run. Lost directional control resulting in float equipped aircraft running onto beach. ## Other investigations on N1433Z (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 ANC98FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98FA145), Sep 9, 1998: de Havilland DHC-2 (N1433Z), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with this accident were the pilot's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, the low… 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.