NTSB ANC23LA057 — 2023-07-25 · Point Baker, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N6782L

Make / Model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
Year of manufacture: 1955 · 68 years old at event
Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (450 hp)
Seats / Engines: 8 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19900213
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A8FC19

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N6782L DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane, with left quartering tailwind, a gust of wind resulted in a loss of directional control. He aborted the takeoff but was unable to regain control and the left wing impacted a pole which rotated the airplane to the left and the right wing struck a boat. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_ANC23LA057.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.