# NTSB DCA77AA026: Dehavilland DHC-6, N563MA, Iliamna, AK, September 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 6, 1977
- Place: Iliamna, AK · ILIAMNA, AK
- Location: 59.7568° N, 154.9111° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Iliamna, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7568&lon=-154.9111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 13 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA77AA026
- Board report AAR7805 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7805.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA77AA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4217   77/9/6  NR.ILIAMNA,AK         DEHAVILLAND DHC-6   CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1452                    N563MA              PX- 11  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      31, 4335 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        1124 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ILIAMNA,AK                  ANCHORAGE,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        REMARKS- HIT GLACIER ABT 7000FT MSL.RECOVERY OF BODIES OR WRECKAGE WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N563MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N563MA-1978-03-03), registration cancelled 1978-03-03, S/N 196 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-6
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19770906042469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770906042469A), Sep 6, 1977: Dhav DHC6/, Iliamna, AK, Destroyed, 11 fatal. Hit glacier abt 7000FT MSL.recovery of bodies or wreckage was not possible.

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.
