- Date
- March 22, 2017, 07:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N264PDehavilland DHC-2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170322005709A
- Case key
- 94905
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The floatplane pilot's failure to avoid a buoy during takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, before the takeoff, he taxied "out a little farther than normal" due to another airplane taxiing in the waterway. He added that, as he advanced the throttle, his forward view changed as the airplane came onto step position and that he subsequently saw a buoy in the takeoff path. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff, but the right wing impacted the buoy. The pilot taxied back to the dock without further incident. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that before the takeoff he taxied "out a little farther than normal" due to another airplane taxiing in the waterway. He added that as he advanced the throttle, his forward view changed as the airplane came onto step position and he subsequently observed a buoy in the takeoff path. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff, but the right wing impacted the buoy. The pilot taxied back to the dock without further incident. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N264P
- Reported as
- Dehavilland DHC-2 (MK1)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 464
- Built
- 1952
- Airframe hours
- 32,717
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R985AN14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Pacific Airways
- Registered owner
- Radial Power Enterprises LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 15, 2017
- Departed
- 5KE · Ketchikan, AK
- Destination
- HYL · Hollis, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 5KE · Ketchikan Harbor, runway W, 3,893 × 1,000 ft, water
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 22, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,749 total · 994 in this make and model · 1,700 as pilot in command · 109 in the last 90 days · 53 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.45 inHg
- Observed at
- PAKT
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.