# NTSB SEA88LA132: De Havilland DHC-3, N55CX, Wrangell, AK, July 15, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1988, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Wrangell, AK
- Coordinates: 56.410266, -131.60939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.4103&lon=-131.6094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88LA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40848/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA132

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT ATTEMPTED FLIGHT THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS IN THE PRESENCE OF LOW CLOUDS AND FOG. VISUAL GROUND REFERENCE WAS LOST AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. PLT CITED PERSONAL AND COMPANY-INDUCED PRESSURES AS FACTORS. OPERATOR COMPLETED ACCIDENT REPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55CX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55CX-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-3
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-3) (registry code 2800202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 139
- Airframe hours: 4300
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Diamond Aviation
- Registered owner: Ben Kalka
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 1988, 65 hours before
- Departed: JMT, JOHNNY MTN
- Destination: WRG, WRANGELL, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,200 total, 185 in the last 90 days, 92 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19880715026669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880715026669A), Jul 15, 1988: Dhav DHC3, Wrangell, AK, Substantial damage. Struck a snow bank trying to fly through mountain pass with low clouds and fog. Pilot reported whiteout conditions.

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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