De Havilland DHC-2 N5154G

Summary

On 21 September 2006 at about 21:15 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N5154G, operated by Alaska Sportsman's Lodge, LLC., was involved in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 September 2006 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.6017, -153.7500

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N5154G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alaska Sportsman's Lodge, LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kodiak → Igiugig

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06FA136

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to reverse direction, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and an uncontrolled descent. Factors associated with the accident were the inadvertent stall and wind gusts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was departing to the north from a narrow stream in a float-equipped airplane with lodge guests aboard, on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight. Northerly winds between 25 and 35 knots, were reported at the time of the accident. The accident pilot reported that after departure, he turned left, and a strong downdraft "threw the airplane to the ground." The passengers said that the airplane started its takeoff run directly into the strong winds, but shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot made a steep turn to the left, about 150 feet above the ground. The passengers indicated that as the airplane continued to turn left, it began to shudder and buffet, then abruptly descended nose low into the marsh-covered terrain. During the impact, the right wing folded, and the airplane's fuselage came to rest on its right side. One of the occupants, seated next to the right main cabin door, was partially ejected during the impact sequence, and was pinned under the fuselage and covered by water. Rescue efforts by the pilot and passengers were unsuccessful. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and during the on-site examination of the wreckage by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, no preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.