De Havilland DHC-2 N9006

Summary

On 5 November 1983 at about 19:20 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N9006, operated by Air Unlimited, was involved in an accident near Challis, Idaho, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

5 November 1983 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Challis, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

44.6509, -114.1490

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N9006

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air Unlimited

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Mahoney Creek

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA84MA016

4 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM THE SIMPLOT RANCH AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS LOCATED BESIDE THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER, APRX 27 MI NORTHWEST OF CHALLIS, ID. HE DEPARTED DOWNRIVER TOWARD THE NORTHEAST, BUT THE DESTINATION WAS A USFS STRIP ABOUT 7 MI UPRIVER TO THE SOUTHWEST. A COURSE REVERSAL NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT 6 MI DOWNRIVER. HOWEVER, A TURN- AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED OVER A RELATIVELY SHALLOW (BENCH) AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, ABOUT 1-1/4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE STRIP; WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE BENCH AREA WHILE ON A WESTERLY HEADING. IT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FORWARD VELOCITY, BUT WITH SEVERE VERTICAL COLLAPSE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.