De Havilland DHC-2 N264P

Summary

On 22 March 2017 at about 15:35 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N264P, operated by Pacific Airways, was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, United States. 3 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

22 March 2017 at 15:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Ketchikan Harbor (5KE)

Coordinates

55.3444, -131.6633

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N264P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1952

Engines

1

Operator

Pacific Airways

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ketchikan → Hollis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA200

Nobody was injured.

The floatplane pilot's failure to avoid a buoy during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, before the takeoff, he taxied "out a little farther than normal" due to another airplane taxiing in the waterway. He added that, as he advanced the throttle, his forward view changed as the airplane came onto step position and that he subsequently saw a buoy in the takeoff path. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff, but the right wing impacted the buoy. The pilot taxied back to the dock without further incident. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.