De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 N1544

Summary

On 14 September 2013 at about 20:45 local time, a De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 registered N1544, operated by Andrew Airways Inc, was involved in an accident near Akhiok, Alaska, United States. 4 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

14 September 2013 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Akhiok, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

57.1917, -154.5039

Aircraft

De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2

Registration

N1544

Category

Airplane

Year built

1958

Engines

1

Operator

Andrew Airways Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Akhiok → Kodiak

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13CA098

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in a gusty tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a float-equipped airplane reported that he was attempting to takeoff from a river, in the same direction as the 3 to 5-knot current, with a 5-knot tailwind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane neared a bend in the river, it encountered a 15 to 20-knot quartering tailwind gust. He said that the airplane lost rudder authority due to the wind gust, and he was unable to steer around the river bend. The airplane subsequently struck the riverbank and came to rest upright. During the impact, the left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.