# NTSB SEA90LA089: de Havilland DHC-2, N1018H, Ketchikan, AK, May 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1990, 17:30 local (May 30, 1990, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Coordinates: 55.610374, -131.579086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6104&lon=-131.5791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41201/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA089

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS WIND CONDITIONS WHILE TAXIING AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE AND A TREE ON THE SHORELINE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT TURBULENT CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. DUE TO THIS CONDITION, A LANDING ON THE WATER WAS MADE CLOSER TO THE SHORE THAN INTENDED. DURING THE TAXI TO THE DOCK IN A COVE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHERE THE LEFT WING CAME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE ALONG THE SHORE OPPOSITE THE DOCK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1018H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1018H-2000-04-14), registration cancelled 2000-04-14, S/N 732 (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: 732
- Airframe hours: 13685
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Ketchikan Air Service
- Registered owner: Ketchikan Air Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 1990, 91 hours before
- Departed: NONE, DORA BAY, AK
- Destination: NONE, LANCASTER COVE, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,250 total, 253 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19900529017809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900529017809A), May 29, 1990: Dhav DHC2*, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. Taxiing close to shore,due to gusty surface wind hooked a wing on a tree.

## Other investigations on N1018H (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 SEA87LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA044), Jan 8, 1987: de Havilland Beaver DHC-2 (N1018H), Shoal Cove, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA86LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA049), Jan 30, 1986: de Havilland DHC-2 (N1018H), Metlakatla, AK, minor damage

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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