De Havilland DHC-2 accident near Ketchikan, AK
On September 30, 1997, a De Havilland DHC-2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 30, 1997
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 55.610°N, 131.580°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08760
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 29, 1997, at 1747 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped DeHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N4787C, was destroyed when it impacted the water after takeoff from Ketchikan, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated by Promech, Inc., of Ketchikan, as a positioning flight after the last leg of Flight 89. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and had departed the Ketchikan International Airport seaplane dock, to reposition to the downtown seaplane base. The downtown seaplane base is located two miles to the east, on the opposite side of Tongass Narrows from the airport dock. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was on file. Witnesses described seeing the airplane takeoff westbound, enter a steep climb, and make a sharp left turn at 200 feet above the water, to the east toward downtown. Witnesses then described the airplane roll rapidly the opposite direction, and impact the water at a steep angle. None of the witnesses described hearing a reduction in engine power after takeoff. INJURIES TO PERSONS The pilot sustained head injuries, and was submerged for approximately one hour prior to recovery. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The airplane was destroyed by impact forces when it impacted the water in about a 90 degrees nose down attitude. Both floats separated and were recovered. The right wing separated at the wing root and was not recovered. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single engine land, sea, and instrumen
Probable cause
The pilot's excessive climb and turning maneuver at low altitude, the pilot's inadvertent stall, and the intentional operation of the airplane with the required stall warning system disabled. Factors associated with this accident were the pilot's overconfidence in the modified airplane's ability, the uninstalled ventral fin, inadequate compliance with the STC by the company, unclear information by
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.
