# NTSB SEA89FA074: de Havilland DHC-2, N62873, Pelican, AK, April 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1989, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Pelican, AK
- Coordinates: 57.950977, -136.11026 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.9510&lon=-136.1103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40917
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40917/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA074

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG A FLT FROM JUNEAU TO PELICAN, AK, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN APRX 12 MI EAST OF PELICAN WHILE CROSSING OVER CHICHAGOF ISLAND. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A VERTICAL ROCK WALL AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1950 FT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS EVIDENT. ANOTHER PLT, WHO HAD PLANNED TO FLY THE SAME ROUTE ABOUT 1 HR & 45 MIN EARLIER, DECIDED TO FLY AROUND THE ISLAND DUE TO LOW CLOUDS, RAIN & FOG IN THE AREA. HE RPRTD THAT HE FLEW OVER ICY STRAITS RATHER THAN TAKE A MORE DIRECT ROUTE & THAT CEILINGS WERE ABOUT 2000 FT BROKEN WITH LOWER STRATUS IN THE VALLEYS. A HELICOPTER PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO WORK IN MOUNTAIN PASSES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACDNT DUE TO LOW CLOUDS, RAIN & FOG; HE ALSO SAID THE PASSES WERE 'SOCKED IN.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62873](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62873-1991-06-03), registration cancelled 1991-06-03, S/N 323 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2) (registry code 2800108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 323
- Airframe hours: 18800
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1-4B 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Channel Flying Service
- Registered owner: Channel Flying, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 12, 1989, 28 hours before
- Departed: JNU, JUNEAU, AK
- Destination: PEC, PELICAN, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,800 total, 460 in this make and model, 4,753 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 13 knots
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JNU, 25 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 19890419009439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890419009439A), Apr 19, 1989: Dhav DHC2*, Pelican, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck rock wall near top of cloud obscured pass. Aircraft burned.

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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