De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) N323KT

Summary

On 22 May 2012 at about 22:12 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) registered N323KT, operated by Rust Properties LLC, was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 5 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

22 May 2012 at 22:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Talkeetna (PATK)

Coordinates

69.2201, -146.7902

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)

Registration

N323KT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rust Properties LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

KahiltnaGlacier → Talkeetna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12CA041

Nobody was injured.

The pilot inadvertently landed with the parking brake set.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot landed at a base camp on a glacier. To prevent the airplane from sliding, he raised the wheel skis and set the parking brake. Upon departure, he lowered the skis but forgot to release the parking brake. Upon touchdown on a hard surfaced runway, the airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed down, then settled back on the tailwheel. The horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He said the accident could have been prevented if he had ensured that the parking brake was not set on the glacier, which would have prevented an abrupt stop when he later landed on wheels.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.