# NTSB ANC98LA157: de Havilland DHC-2, N700NL, Iliamna, AK, September 19, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1998, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.850326, -154.559005 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8503&lon=-154.5590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 44017 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44017/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions, and his attempted flight into adverse weather. Factors associated with the accident are high and gusty winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff to the east from a remote lake in a float equipped airplane. He estimated the prevailing winds to be easterly at 35 knots, with gusts to 55 knots. Shortly after applying power during the takeoff roll, the pilot said a gust of wind suddenly lifted the right wing, and the airplane rolled over to the left. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1998, about 0730 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N700NL, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from Lake Iliamna, Alaska, about 20 miles southwest of Iliamna, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, 14 CFR Part 91 fishing lodge business flight. The flight was returning to Nondalton, Alaska, where it had departed about 0700. During a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator on September 19, the pilot reported he was beginning a takeoff run to the east, when the right wing lifted and the airplane rolled slowly to the left and nosed over. The pilot said he estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be from the east at 30 to 40 knots. He also noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. During the telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator, the pilot indicated there was damage to the left aileron. The aileron was subsequently replaced. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot wrote that as he advanced power for takeoff, an "unknown" gust of wind lifted the right wing and rolled the airplane over to the left. His report also estimated the wind to be from the east at 35 knots, with gusts to 55 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N700NL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N700NL), registered now, S/N 1232, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2808006) (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: 1804 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred E. Sims - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONDALTON, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 6,950 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 90° at 35 knots, gusting 55 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 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 19980919025539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980919025539A), Sep 19, 1998: Dhav DHC2*, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 19, 1998, about 0745 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Dehavilland DHC-2 airplane, N700NL, sustained substantial damage during an… 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.