# NTSB ANC96FA101: de Havilland DHC-2, N54LA, Elfin Cove, AK, July 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1996, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Elfin Cove, AK - Coordinates: 58.159461, -135.740463 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.1595&lon=-135.7405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96FA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2759/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96FA101 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from rising terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the rising terrain and clouds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the air taxi cargo flight departed his base of operations in Juneau, Alaska for a series of flights in southeast Alaska that would ultimately return him to Juneau. On the accident leg of the intended round robin, the pilot was en route from Hoonah to Elfin Cove. The flight would originate and end at sea level, and traverse a mountain pass, with minimum obstruction clearance in the pass estimated at 500 feet msl. The airplane collided with steeply rising terrain at the 1,250-foot level about one mile south of the proposed flight path. The airplane was partially consumed by a postimpact fire. The operator initiated a helicopter search within two hours of the time of the accident. The helicopter pilot and his passenger both reported that the area where the accident airplane was eventually located was obscured in low clouds, and that many of the other valleys and mountainsides were covered in clouds. Low clouds persisted in the area of the crash site for the following two days. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 19, 1996, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N54LA, operated by Lynden Air Cargo, doing business as Loken Aviation, was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire when it collided with steep terrain near Elfin Cove, Alaska. Variable weather conditions, from visual meteorological to instrument meteorological, were reported in the general vicinity of the accident site. The solo airline transport certificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi cargo flight last departed Hoonah, Alaska, approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident, en route to Elfin Cove. The proposed route of flight was from Juneau, to Hoonah, to Elfin Cove, to Pelican, and return to Juneau. All of the preceding locations are in southeast Alaska. The flight departed Juneau at 1436, arrived Hoonah at 1455, off loaded and loaded additional cargo for the flights to Elfin Cove and Pelican, and departed Hoonah about 1515. Company officials expected that the pilot would fly to Elfin Cove via the Tenakee Inlet and Trail River drainage. This route of flight would begin and end at sea level, proceed principally in a northwest direction, and require a minimum obstruction clearance altitude of approximately 500 feet msl. The flight path is generally surrounded by heavily forested, steeply rising terrain (see attached charts). The wreckage was located by the U.S. Coast Guard on a mountainside at the 1,250 level on July 21 about 1040, after a search by Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. The accident site was located at geographic coordinates, N58.01.28, W136.06.20, about 15 statute miles from Elfin Cove, on a magnetic bearing of 113 degrees. The accident site was near Pyramid Peak, approximately one mile southwest of the Trail River drainage area. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot of the accident airplane was employed as a part-time pilot for the operator, Lynden Air Cargo, and was occasionally employed by another operator, Executive Flight, Inc., as First Officer on a Cessna CE-500 business jet. The pilot's last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 14 CFR Part 135 flight proficiency check ride was conducted on January 31, 1996, in a deHavilland DHC-2 airplane. According to company records and interviews, the pilot was off duty for the three days preceding the accident flight. He had flown earlier the day of the accident, in the accident airplane, accruing 2.6 hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane's last inspection was a 100-hour inspection performed on July 9, 1996. At the time of the accident, the airplane had operated about 34 hours since the 100-hour inspection. A review of the airplane's maintenance records did not disclose any unresolved maintenance or mechanical discrepancies with the airplane prior to its departure from Hoonah. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The nearest reporting stations to the crash site are Elfin Cove and Gustavus. At 1455, Elfin Cove was reporting: calm winds, a few clouds at 1,900 feet, 3,000 feet overcast, temperature 55 F., dewpoint 50 F., visibility 25 miles. Elfin Cove is approximately 15 miles northwest of the accident site. The 1454 weather report from Gustavus reported: 5 knot winds from 200 degrees true, broken clouds at 3,200 feet, overcast 3,800 feet, temperature 58 F., dewpoint 55 F., visibility 10 miles. Gustavus is about 30 miles north-northeast of the accident site. An interview with the pilot of the helicopter who flew another employee of Lynden Air Cargo in search of the accident airplane, reported that he was unable to initially search the mountains or drainage where the airplane was eventually located due to low clouds. He said that many of the mountains and passes in the immediate vicinity of the accident site, and to the south of Trail River, were similarly occluded. He said the weather was up and down in the drainages, with lots of lower "scud" and obscured mountain sides. The passenger that accompanied the helicopter pilot related essentially the same weather information. The helicopter pilot and his passenger were in the vicinity of the accident site about two hours after the presumed time of the accident. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The on site investigation was conducted by Mr. Matthew Thomas, a Principal Air Safety Inspector for the FAA's Juneau Flight Standards District Office, on July 23. The wreckage was on the northeast face of a 32 degree sloping ridge. The direction of flight at impact was generally towards Hoonah, the last departure point, and in the opposite direction from Elfin Cove. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 115 degrees magnetic. Strike marks in the trees from the first observed impact point to point of final rest were also 115 degrees. The first observed impact mark was a broken tree top about 130 feet horizontally from the final resting place. Both left and right wings were found at the base of trees aligned with the wreckage path. Both wings exhibited impact marks. The wing attach fittings were distorted rearward. Both wing leading edges had circular holes with crushing in the leading edges. The flaps and ailerons remained attached to the wings, and control cables in both wings were intact and operational from the ailerons to the bellcrank at the wing roots. The right wing's lift strut was located with the wing. The left lift strut was located with the main wreckage. The remainder of the wreckage was located approximately 100 feet from the initial observed impact mark. There was one fuselage-sized ground scar located 28 feet directly uphill from the resting site of the fuselage. The overall length of the airframe from propeller hub to tail cone was approximately 30 feet. There was upward crushing on the lower fuselage belly surface. Both floats exhibited rearward crushing from the tips to 10 feet aft. The fuselage forward of the aft cargo bulkhead was consumed by fire. All soot and burn patterns were vertical. All molten aluminum was pooled, and had dripped vertically downward. All three steel engine control cables were intact, but all ends were free and disconnected from the engine. The steel flight control cables, and trim cables were intact from the pilot controls to the flight control surfaces. The aileron cables were intact and free from the yoke to the bell cranks at the wing roots. All engine controls, fuel system components, and the magnesium aft accessory case consumed by fire. No damage was apparent to the accessory gears, crankshaft, connecting rods, or cylinders. All fuel, oil, and ignition leads to the cylinders appeared intact, except for melted non-metallic hoses. All components were discolored. All valves and guides appeared undamaged. Hartzell Propeller Blades, serial numbers H77450, H77453, and H77454, all exhibited aft bending of the outer 1/3 span, span-wise twisting of the leading edges, leading edge gouging, and chord-wise scratching. Propeller blade H77454 separated from the propeller hub and was found 20 feet uphill from the main wreckage. The fracture occurred at the hub/clamp attachment. The outer 4 inches of the blade separated and was not found. A single, 25 foot long ground scar slash the width of the propeller blade existed along the flight path and terminated at the location of the separated blade. The hydraulic flap actuator was attached to the torque tube, the attaching clevis was undamaged, and the attaching bolt was free to rotate in the clevis hole. The actuator housing was partially consumed by fire. The actuator piston was intact and fused to the remaining housing at the aft end fluid port. The flap extension piston rod exhibited heat discoloration, but no mechanical deformation. It was mechanically locked in position, extended 4.0 inches from the cylinder face. All cockpit and control indicators we ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54LA-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N 724, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (registry code 2808002) (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: 724 - Airframe hours: 11047 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Lynden Air Cargo, doing business as Loken Aviation - Registered owner: Inian, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 9, 1996, 33 hours before - Departed: HNH, HOONAH, AK - Destination: ELV - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,999 total, 616 in this make and model, 2,921 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 13 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 19960719018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960719018829A), Jul 19, 1996: Dhav DHC2MK1, Elfin Cove, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of tree covered cloud obscured mountain. Had safe longer sea route but took a shorter land route. 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.