# NTSB SEA83AA028: de Havilland DHC-2, N68081, Near Klawock, AK, December 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1982, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Near Klawock, AK
- Coordinates: 55.539325, -132.95996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.5393&lon=-132.9600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 8 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83AA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71883/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83AA028

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AT 1236 THE FLT DEPARTED KETCHIKAN SEAPLANE BASE WITH A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE & AT 1240 REPORTED CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE. THE NEXT & LAST TRANSMISSION BY THE PLT WAS MADE TO THE COMPANY VIA FM RADIO AT ABOUT 1340. THIS REPORT WAS ISSUEDIN THE VICINITY OF HAPPY HARBOR (PASSING OVER KASAAN ISLAND) & WAS THE APPROXIMATE MID-POINT OF THE FLT TO CRAIG. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT FLYING SW OVER TWELVEMILE ARM TOWARD HOLLIS. UPON REACHING HOLLIS THE FLT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TURN WEST & CROSS INLAND OVER PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND UNTIL REACHING THE WEST SHORELINE & THENCE DIRECTLY TO CRAIG. THERE WAS A FOG BANK ABOUT 2 MI PRIOR TO HOLLIS IN TWELVEMILE ARM & THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO REVERSE COURSE AS THE WX WAS APPROACHED & PROCEED NORTH. THE ACFT WAS LOST FROM SIGHT DUE TO TREES & RAPIDLY UPSLOPING TERRAIN. AN INCREASE IN ENG SOUND WAS HEARD PRIOR TO THE CRASH. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE CLOUDS AS ESSENTIALLY BROKEN WITH BASES AT ABOUT 1000 FT OVER THE WATER & OBSTRUCTING THE TOPS OF SOME OF THE HIGHER ISLANDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N68081 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 906
- Airframe hours: 12735
- Engines: P & W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Tyee Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Tyee Airlines, Inc.
- Departed: C, KETCHIKAN, AK
- Destination: C, CRAIG, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,683 total, 1,105 in this make and model, 3,242 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F

## 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 19821209062979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821209062979A), Dec 9, 1982: Dhav DHC2MK1, Klawock, AK, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Aircraft had diverted path of flight due to fog bank. Crash occurred in rising terrain in marginal weather.

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.