# NTSB GAA20CA007: De Havilland Beaver DHC 2, N1544, Kodiak, AK, October 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2019, 14:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 56.93861, -154.182495 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9386&lon=-154.1825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100390/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100390 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control while landing on glassy water, which resulted in the left float touching the water, a loss of yaw control, and impact with a riverbank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2800108), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing on a glassy river and as he was rolling the wings level, he felt the left float touch the water. The airplane yawed left, went up a riverbank, and slid on the tundra. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. 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 a landing on a glassy river, as he was rolling the wings level, he felt the left float touch the water. The airplane yawed to the left, went up the river bank, and slid on the tundra. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1544](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1544), registered now, S/N 1230, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 (No Series) - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2) (registry code 2800108) (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: 1230 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 31302.2 - Engines: P&W R985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew Airways Inc - Registered owner: Andrew Airways Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 2019 - Departed: Larson Bay, AK - Destination: Kodiak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 8,173 total, 238 in this make and model, 7,978 as pilot in command, 231 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: PAKH ## 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 20191007021139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191007021139A), Oct 7, 2019: Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, Akhiok, AK, Substantial damage. I departed karluk portage on the karluk river near larsen bay Alaska at 1357 akd. Terrain is a wide flat river valley with mountains on the outskirts. Winds… ## Other investigations on N1544 (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 ANC18LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA025), Jan 24, 2018: Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2 (N1544), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. - [NTSB ANC13CA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA098), Sep 14, 2013: Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2 (N1544), Akhiok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in a gusty tailwind. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100390. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.