# NTSB GAA18CA321: Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2, N203KL, Ketchikan, AK, June 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2018, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.216945, -132.233612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.2169&lon=-132.2336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 6 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97391/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97391 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA321 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during a water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach to the ocean bay, the float-equipped airplane encountered very light turbulence. The touchdown was normal, but seconds later he "felt" a strong wind on the airplane's tail from the left that lifted the tail. The front of the right float submerged, and he immediately "pulled back and left" on the controls with no response. Subsequently, the right float struts collapsed, and the right wing impacted the water, the airplane spun about 90° to 120° to the right, the left wing impacted the water, and the airplane came to rest upright on the floats. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system about 20 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 160° at 9 knots. The pilot landed to the south. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during approach to the ocean bay, the float-equipped airplane encountered very light turbulence. The touchdown was normal, but seconds later he "felt" a strong wind on the tail from the left, that lifted the tail of the airplane. The front of the right float submerged, and he immediately "pulled back and left" on the controls with no response. Subsequently, the right float struts collapsed and the right wing impacted the water, the airplane spun approximately 90° to 120° to the right, the left wing impacted the water, and the airplane came to rest upright on the floats. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system about 20 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 160° at 9 knots. The pilot landed to the south. ## Aircraft - Registration: N203KL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC 2 (I) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1460 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 21240 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rdm Pilot/Guide Ltd - Registered owner: Rdm Pilot/Guide Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2018 - Departed: Ketchikan, AK - Destination: Ketchikan, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,900 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 8,900 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: PAKT, 20 nm away ## 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 20180601006789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180601006789A), Jun 1, 2018: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. Immediately after touching down, into the predominant wind, on the water a sudden gust from the left rear of the aircraft caused the right float to dig into… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97391. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.