De Havilland BEAVER U-6A N65223

Summary

On 20 July 2024 at about 15:45 local time, a De Havilland BEAVER U-6A registered N65223, operated by Rainbow River Lodge Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Pedro Bay, 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

20 July 2024 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.7367, -153.9265

Aircraft

De Havilland BEAVER U-6A

Registration

N65223

Category

Airplane

Year built

1955

Engines

1

Operator

Rainbow River Lodge Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kokhanok

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC24LA068

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane, he was on step and maneuvered the airplane around a bend in the river, facing into the sun. The pilot reported that he was unable to see due to the glare of the sun. The airplane drifted to the left and the left wingtip caught bushes on the left bank of the river, pulling the airplane up onto shore which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.