# NTSB ANC97LA014: de Havilland DHC-2, N67694, Ketchikan, AK, December 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1996, 09:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.609836, -131.579269 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6098&lon=-131.5793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2955/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA014 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with terrain (water). A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis According to the passenger, he and the pilot had just taken off, and as they were climbing out over an open water portion of a bay, the pilot said, 'here comes a gust.' Reportedly, the pilot added engine power, and the airplane began descending. The right wing started to dip, and the nose started to drop. The pilot had the control yoke turned all the way to the left, then yelled that they were going in. The airplane crashed in the water, and the passenger exited the airplane through the windshield. He did not see the pilot. The deceased pilot was found still strapped in his seat several days later, when a portion of the wreckage was recovered. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1996, at 0905 Alaska standard time, a float equipped DHC-2 Beaver airplane, N67694, registered to and operated by Taquan Air Service of Ketchikan, Alaska, crashed during takeoff from the water near Port Johnson, Alaska, located about 18 miles southwest of Ketchikan. The on demand air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, was departing the location of the accident and the destination was Ketchikan. A company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sank in 400 feet of water. According to the company, the passenger stated they had just taken off. They were in the initial climb phase when the right wing started to dip and the nose started to drop. The pilot had the control yoke turned all the way to the left and applied full power. He then yelled that they were going in. The airplane crashed into the water and the passenger exited the airplane through the windshield. He did not see the pilot. During a telephone interview with the passenger, he stated that there was very little wind or wave action in the takeoff area. The takeoff area is protected by trees and the shoreline. After takeoff, as the pilot flew the airplane and exited the bay from which they took off, the passenger heard the pilot say, "here comes a gust." The passenger stated he could see the ripples on the water as a gust of wind struck the airplane. The engine power increased and the airplane began to descend. Then the right wing pointed at the water and the left wing was pointing at the sky. The passenger does not remember how the airplane struck the water. He exited the airplane after attempting to release his seat belt four times. He exited through the missing windshield. The airplane was recovered in 411 feet of water near Port Johnson. As the salvage crew raised the airplane, the engine and instrument panel, the entire cockpit section forward of the pilot, broke away and sank. The remainder of the airplane was stored on a barge. The wreckage could not be examined due to the high winds. The barge could not sail across the open water due to the high winds. The wreckage was blown off the barge approximately 5 days later and the wreckage sank. It has not been recovered. The pilot's remains were discovered still strapped into his seat when the fuselage was recovered. An autopsy of the pilot was conducted by Dr. M.W. Stewart, 3100 Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67694](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67694-1997-10-16), registration cancelled 1997-10-16, S/N 924 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 924 - Airframe hours: 20640 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Taquan Air Service - Registered owner: Brian And Louise Macmanus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 29, 1996, 87 hours before - Departed: PORT JOHNSON, AK - Destination: KTN, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,800 total, 8,500 in this make and model, 17,700 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 25 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken ## 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 19961212039309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961212039309A), Dec 12, 1996: Dhav DHC2MK1, Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed on takeoff and sank in 400 ft of water. (.4)according to the passenger, he and the pilot had just taken off, and as they were climbing out… 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.