De Havilland DHC-2 accident near Kodiak, AK
On May 22, 2006, a De Havilland DHC-2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kodiak, AK. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 22, 2006
- Place
- Kodiak, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 58.450°N, 154.067°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060530X00641
NTSB summary
On May 22, 2006, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N1543, sustained substantial damage when it collided with ocean waves during takeoff-initial climb from Hallo Bay, Alaska, about 65 miles west-northwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane, operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air tour flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, by Andrew Airways, Kodiak, subsequently rolled inverted after an emergency landing on the water. The commercial certificated pilot, a company guide, and one passenger, received minor injures. The remaining three passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from Hallo Bay, a remote area of the Alaska Peninsula, and was en route to Kodiak. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 24, the director of operations for the operator reported that the accident flight was the return portion of a tour to the Katmai National Park. The tour consisted of a flight from Kodiak, a landing on the water at Hallo Bay, and the passengers going ashore with the company guide for two hours of bear viewing, prior to a return flight to Kodiak. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on May 25, the pilot reported that after boarding the passengers for the return flight, he began the takeoff run toward the north, about 30 yards from and parallel to the beach. He said the wind was from the north between 15 to
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his selection of unsuitable terrain (rough water) for takeoff, which resulted in a collision with ocean swells during takeoff initial climb, and a hard emergency landing and a roll over. Factors contributing to the accident were a windshear, rough water, and buckling of the float assemblies when the airplane struck the waves.
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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.
