# NTSB ANC99LA007: de Havilland DHC-2, N94DC, Chitina, AK, October 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 1998, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Chitina, AK - Coordinates: 61.450061, -143.150833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4501&lon=-143.1508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45240/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight which failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system. A factor was the unsuitable terrain in the emergency landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The airplane was taking off when the engine quit at the departure end of the airstrip approximately 50 feet above the ground. The pilot landed straight ahead on a short gravel bar and nosed over into a river, with the carburetor remaining above water. The pilot said the front fuel tank was full, and selected. The fuel system remained intact. Disassembly of the engine revealed no mechanical, fuel system, or ignition system anomalies. No fuel was found in the main fuel supply line. A mix of water and fuel was found in the carburetor bowl. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 1998, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped DeHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N94DC, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing after takeoff from a remote lodge airstrip about 70 miles east of Chitina, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the five passengers on board were not injured. The airplane was operated by Ultima Thule Outfitters, Inc., doing business as Ultima Thule Lodge, of Chitina. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91, returning local friends to Chitina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot, and a pilot-rated passenger, told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during telephone interviews on October 18, that immediately after takeoff the engine vibrated, then quit. They both stated that an attempt was made to land straight ahead on a river bar located off the end of the lodge landing strip. The airplane hit a rut, ran off the end of the short gravel bar into the three feet deep river, and nosed over onto its back. The occupants exited through the main doors and left pilot door. The pilot indicated in his NTSB Pilot / Operator report, and the pilot-rated passenger confirmed, that the front fuel tank was full, and there was five gallons of fuel in the center tank. The fuel selector was set to the front tank for takeoff. The most recent maintenance indicated in the engine logbook was a 100 hour inspection on September 15, 85 hours prior to the accident. The engine was inspected by an FAA inspector on November 11, and revealed no mechanical anomalies with the fuel system or magnetos. The engine and propeller were mechanically intact and rotated freely. All screens and filters were free of debris. Propeller blades were bent rearward with no indication of rotation at impact. The fuel lines were intact, and no fuel was found in the fuel hose between the firewall and the fuel pump. The residual fuel in the carburetor bowl was mixed with water. The airplane came to rest in the river with the carburetor above the water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94DC), registered now, S/N 238, built 1951 (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: 51-16485 - Airframe hours: 9647 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul Edward Claus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 1998, 75 hours before - Departed: ULTIMA THULE, AK - Destination: CXC, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Ultima Thule Lodge, runway 8, 1,500 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,250 total, 2,750 in this make and model, 13,150 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °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 19981018029559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981018029559A), Oct 18, 1998: Dhav DHC2*, Chitina, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on takeofff and sustained substantial damage. (.4) the airplane was taking off when the engine quit at the departure end of the airstrip… ## Other investigations on N94DC (2) 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 ANC19LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA028), Jun 27, 2019: De Havilland DHC-2 (N94DC), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a water loop. - [NTSB ANC83LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA024), Dec 18, 1982: de Havilland DHC-2 (N94DC), Near Port Alswo, AK, substantial damage 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.