Plane Crash List

De Havilland DHC-2 N17394

12 August 1994 · Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 12 August 1994 at about 01:00 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N17394, operated by Talnon Air Service, was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 01:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
60.2005, -154.2806
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-2
Registration
N17394
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Talnon Air Service
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Caribou Lake → Nikiski
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC94FA105

People

3 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 3 0 0 0

Probable cause

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE BOX/BLIND CANYON AND PROXIMITY OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A VALLEY WITH MOUNTAINS ON BOTH SIDES. WHILE THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT TO REVERSE DIRECTION, IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PLANE'S ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND THAT THE WEATHER WAS GOOD WITH CLEAR SKIES, UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AND LIGHT WIND. A PILOT WHO FLEW OVER THE ACCIDENT SITE MINUTES AFTER THE MISHAP REPORTED THE AREA WAS DEVOID OF TURBULENCE. THIS WAS A PART 135, ON-DEMAND, LODGE/HUNTING GUIDE OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other De Havilland DHC-2 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 May 1994 De Havilland DHC-2
N6782L
Friday Harbor, Washington, United States - Serious injuries -
7 Aug 1994 De Havilland DHC-2
N126UA
Kodiak, Alaska, United States - Fatal 6
9 Jul 1994 De Havilland DHC-2
N2297R
Nondalton, Alaska, United States McBride, Michael S. No injuries -
16 Jul 1994 De Havilland DHC-2
N2297R
Kenai, Alaska, United States McBride, Michael S. No injuries -
19 Aug 1994 De Havilland DHC-2
N1785R
Skwenta, Alaska, United States Willow Air Service No injuries -
31 Aug 1993 De Havilland DHC-2
N64273
Iliamna, Alaska, United States Rainbow King, Inc Fatal 3

All 265 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Sep 1994 Piper PA-18-150
N57698
Gulkana, Alaska, United States Maynard, Roger L. No injuries -
8 Sep 1994 Piper PA-12
N3363M
Nondalton, Alaska, United States Alaska Safari, Inc. No injuries -
13 Sep 1994 Cessna 140
N76680
Willow, Alaska, United States Moore, Charles D. No injuries -
15 Sep 1994 Piper PA-18-150
N3930Z
Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States 4W Air No injuries -
13 Sep 1994 Piper PA-18
N8653Y
Kodiak, Alaska, United States Hulbert, Ward A. No injuries -
19 Aug 1994 Cessna 182B
N2791G
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States Charlton, Albert J. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States