De Havilland DHC-2 N3129F

Summary

On 12 July 2002 at about 19:45 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N3129F, operated by Minta Inc, was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 2002 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.1267, -154.1117

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N3129F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Minta Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Hood → Iliamna

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02FA075

4 people died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot of the float-equipped airplane was transporting passengers to a lodge at a remote lake. When the airplane did not arrive at the lake, a search was initiated, and two days later the wreckage of the airplane was located on the side of a box canyon about the 2,400 foot elevation level. The canyon is oriented approximately east-west, and the wreckage was distributed along a 100 foot debris field on the north flank of the canyon. Ground scars and wreckage distribution were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a steep left bank while executing a turn to reverse direction. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies was discovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.