De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 N77KZ

Summary

On 22 September 2019 at about 22:50 local time, a De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 registered N77KZ was involved in an accident near Mountain Village, Alaska, United States. 3 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 September 2019 at 22:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9347, -163.6642

Aircraft

De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2

Registration

N77KZ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1955

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mountain Village → Mountain Village

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA563

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper takeoff configuration due to distraction, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to become airborne and its subsequent collision with rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use the Before Takeoff checklist.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in the float-equipped airplane reported that he did not extend the flaps before he accelerated for takeoff from a lake. He added that, shortly after coming on step, he rolled the ailerons left and applied back pressure to the elevator to "become airborne." However, the airplane did not become airborne, and the floats subsequently impacted the shoreline. The airplane then bounced, skidded to a stop, impacted rising terrain, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator. The pilot reported that he had not maintained a sterile cockpit during takeoff and that he failed to complete the Before Takeoff checklist. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.