De Havilland DHC-2 accident near Port Alsworth, AK
On July 12, 2002, a De Havilland DHC-2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, AK. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 12, 2002
- Place
- Port Alsworth, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 60.127°N, 154.112°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020724X01198
Official records · ANC02FA075
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 12, 2002, about 1145 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N3129F, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain, about 6 miles east of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Bigfoot Air, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) charter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, about 1045, and was bound for the Rainbow Point Lodge on Lake Iliamna, about 225 miles southwest of Anchorage. According to FAA records, the pilot contacted Kenai Radio at 1049 and requested to file a VFR flight plan to the destination at Lake Illiamna. The FSS specialist manning the In-flight Two position activated the VFR flight plan, and relayed weather for Lake Hood, Kenai, Big River Lakes, and Port Alsworth, indicating that Lake Clark Pass was reported to be open on both sides. At 1127 the pilot contacted Kenai Radio again, and requested pilot reports for Lake Clark Pass. The FSS specialist manning the In-flight One position relayed one pilot report indicating there was a "little bit of fog on the east side," but the pass was open. There were no further radio communications with the accident airplane, and no emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (I
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering inside a box/blind canyon, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the box/blind canyon.
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.
