De Havilland DHC-2 MK.1 N4040W

Summary

On 2 August 2006 at about 01:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 MK.1 registered N4040W, operated by Brooks Range Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States. 6 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

2 August 2006 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

68.1501, -151.7107

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2 MK.1

Registration

N4040W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brooks Range Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anaktuvuk Pass → Bettles

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06LA109

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff at his predetermined reference point, which resulted in a collision with the shore during takeoff-initial climb, and structural damage to the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot was transporting passengers from a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 135. He said that during takeoff he passed his predetermined point to abort the takeoff without becoming airborne, and felt that he had to proceed with the takeoff or hit the shoreline. The pilot said that he was able to become airborne, but struck the shore of the lake with the airplane's floats just after liftoff. He stated that he was concerned about damage to the floats from the impact with the shore, and elected to land on a hard surface runway at the destination airport. The float structure collapsed during landing, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. There were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.