De Havilland DHC-2 N7283

Summary

On 14 June 2000 at about 01:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N7283 was involved in an accident near Levelock, Alaska, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2000 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Levelock, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.2894, -156.6506

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N7283

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kvichak River

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC00LA069

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff run. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's diverted attention while retracting the water rudders.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was taking off from a narrow river. He stated that he initially kept the water rudders extended during the downriver takeoff for steerage. He indicated that when the airplane came up on step, it swerved left toward the shallow water, and he did not have time to avoid striking the riverbank. He stated that the swerve was likely caused by a wind gust from the left, or dragging the left float on the shallow river bottom. Five of the six passengers aboard provided written statements to the NTSB. Three of the five reported the wind conditions were calm at the time of the accident. The remaining two passengers did not mention the wind conditions. All five of the passengers noted the airplane veered to the left, towards the riverbank, when the pilot diverted his attention and lowered his head to retract the water rudders.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.