De Havilland DHC-4A accident near Sparrevohn, AK
On January 30, 1997, a De Havilland DHC-4A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sparrevohn, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 30, 1997
- Place
- Sparrevohn, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-4A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 63.470°N, 162.110°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07249
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 29, 1997, about 2310 Alaska standard time, a De Havilland DHC-4A, N702SC, collided with terrain about 2.2 miles west of Sparrevohn Long Range Radar Station (LRRS), Sparrevohn, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cargo flight to Kenai, Alaska, under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by South Central Air, Kenai, Alaska, was destroyed. The captain, a certificated commercial pilot, received serious injuries. The first officer, a certificated airline transport pilot, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from St. Mary's, Alaska, about 2105 hours. The captain reported the crew was involved in transporting mining equipment from Pilot Station, Alaska, to St. Mary's, and had made three trips between the two areas throughout the day. The final load of the day was a large mining air compressor that was secured in the cargo compartment. The flight landed at St. Mary's for fuel and service before departing on the accident flight to Kenai. The captain reported the fuel load was 2,800 pounds, and the cargo weighed 5,300 pounds. After departure, the first officer was flying the airplane and the flight was progressing at 12,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The intended route of flight was from St. Mary's, via the Sparrevohn VOR, to Kenai. About 10 miles east of the Sparrevohn VOR, the right engine propeller began to overspeed. The captain feathered the right engine, and at 2252:25, the crew declared an em
Probable cause
loss of the right engine propeller control oil, which led to an overspeed of the right engine and propeller, and necessitated a shut-down of the right engine; and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate altitude/distance from terrain during visual approach for a precautionary landing at an alternate airport. Factors relating to the accident were: fluctuation of the left engine power, premature l
More accidents in AK
- Beech 1900C, Nov 23, 1987
- Textron Aviation Inc 208B, Feb 6, 2025
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jul 7, 2013
- Cessna 208, Oct 10, 2001
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jun 25, 2015
Browse: Alaska · De Havilland aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
