# NTSB SEA88FA156: de Havilland DHC-2 Mark 1, N64398, Sitka, AK, August 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1988, 06:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Sitka, AK
- Coordinates: 56.729808, -135.000534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.7298&lon=-135.0005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA156

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM SITKA TO ROWAN BAY, ALASKA, THE PILOT FLEW UP A VALLEY INTENDING TO CROSS A PASS WHOSE ELEVATION WAS 2745 FEET MSL. UPON APPROACHING THE PASS THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS WHICH PREVENTED HIS TRANSIT. THE PILOT THEN EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE RIGHT COURSE REVERSAL AND AT SOME POINT NEAR THE COMPLETION OF THE MANEUVER AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE STEEP TERRAIN ALONG THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PASS THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER A STALL CONDITION. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE 40 DEGREE SLOPED TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, NEAR WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AND WITH A STEEP FLIGHT PATH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N64398 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 MARK 1 (DHC-2 MARK)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 251
- Airframe hours: 13985
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Bellair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 1988, 36 hours before
- Departed: AK29, SITKA, AK
- Destination: RWB, ROWAN BAY, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,300 total, 700 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 108 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 90° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SIT, 15 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 19880818062549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880818062549A), Aug 18, 1988: Dhav DHC2MK1, Sitka, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of a mountain pass. Reported obscured by clouds. Another aircraft had turned back prior to accident.

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.

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