De Havilland DHC-2 N60TF

Summary

On 30 May 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N60TF was involved in an accident near Sitka, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

30 May 2003 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sitka, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

56.9583, -135.1417

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N60TF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sitka → Sitka

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA054

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear wheels of an amphibious float equipped airplane after departure from a paved runway, which resulted in a nose over when the airplane was landed on a nearby lake with the wheels extended. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the short flight from the airport to the lake.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot departed from a paved runway for a short flight to a remote lake in an amphibious float-equipped airplane to deliver supplies to a client. The pilot reported that he was transporting several loads of equipment to the lake, and failed to visually check the gear position while looking for a new unloading area. He also indicated that he was distracted when he had to reset the flaps, and by a minor malfunction with the airplane's GPS receiver. He said he forgot to raise the landing gear wheels, and landed on the lake with the wheels extended. During the landing touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over and received damage to the left wing and fuselage. The airplane is equipped with floats that have landing gear position lights installed on the instrument panel. The airplane also has a mirror enabling the pilot to visually observe the landing gear position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.