De Havilland DHC-2 N68084

Summary

On 19 July 1997 at about 16:45 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N68084 was involved in an accident near Alagnak River, Alaska, United States. 2 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

19 July 1997 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Alagnak River, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.7495, -156.5405

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N68084

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → King Salmon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC97LA106

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's intentional operation of the airplane with known deficiencies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was making a no-wind takeoff downstream from a 4,000-foot slow flowing river. The takeoff water run for the conditions was calculated at 1,300 feet. The pilot and passenger both reported a partial loss of engine RPM just prior to lift-off from the water. According to the pilot, there was insufficient stopping distance before reaching a river bank. The pilot rotated the airplane off the water below flying speed, cleared the bank, and settled back into the tundra. The pilot stated that a similar loss of engine RPM had happened before, but was considered transient.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.