- Date
- September 23, 2018, 18:00 local (Sep 24, 2018, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kukaklek Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9RWDe Havilland DHC 2 MK. I(L20A)
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180923014039A
- Case key
- 98447
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 pilot’s failure to see and avoid a sand bar during a water takeoff, which resulted in the airplane impacting a river bank.
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, during landing on a river to pick up passengers, he observed that the river was low and that sand bars were visible. During takeoff, the left float contacted a sand bar in shallow water, and the airplane impacted the river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a river to pick up passengers, he observed that the river was low, and sand bars were visible. During takeoff, the left float contacted a sand bar in shallow water and the airplane impacted the river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9RW
- Reported as
- De Havilland DHC 2 MK. I(L20A) (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1095
- Built
- 1956
- Engine
- P&W R985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- T-Corp
- Registered owner
- T-Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 2, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,500 total · 3,400 in this make and model · 5,250 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.72 inHg
- Observed at
- PAIG, 25 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.2 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.
Other investigations on N9RW · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.