NTSB ANC24LA054 — 2024-06-20 · Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N55WE

Make / Model: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1
Year of manufacture: 1952 · 72 years old at event
Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (450 hp)
Seats / Engines: 8 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19890505
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A6FF0B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N55WE DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane during initial climb.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff in a float-equipped airplane, he heard rustling noises coming from the aft cargo section of the airplane. The pilot glanced behind him to identify the source of the noises and, as he looked forward again, the airplane impacted the water resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ANC24LA054.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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