De Havilland DHC-2 N6781L

Summary

On 30 April 2001 at about 20:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N6781L was involved in an accident near Seattle, Washington, 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

30 April 2001 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Seattle, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Union Air Service SPB (WA57)

Coordinates

47.6292, -122.3193

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N6781L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Seattle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA081

Nobody was injured.

The high wind conditions encountered as the aircraft began its takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the variable and gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The left seat pilot, who was undergoing training, accompanied by the right seat pilot (both pilots were instructors), taxied the floatplane out for departure. The aircraft was turned into the wind and takeoff power was beginning to be applied when the aircraft's right wing was picked up by a wind gust. The aircraft momentarily became airborne, pivoted and impacted the water slowly nosing over. A cold front was passing through the Puget Sound area shortly before the accident and strong, gusty winds out of the south were recorded at all Puget Sound stations in the area near the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 150 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 43 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.