Event ANC95LA132

Factual narrative

On August 8, 1995, at 0815 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver airplane, N144Q, registered to and operated by Rainbow River Lodge, sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing at Crosswind Lake, located near the confluence of Moraine and Funnel Creeks, 40 miles south of Iliamna, Alaska. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the lodge on Lake Iliamna and the destination was Crosswind Lake. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airline transport certificated pilot, the fishing guide, and the six passengers were not injured. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on August 10, 1995, he stated he was performing a glassy water landing and the airplane did not touchdown on the water and it "floated" approximately 1/3 of the way past the intended landing area. He applied power and the engine coughed. He stated that he applied throttle rapidly and not as smoothly as if he were applying power for a takeoff. The engine then "came to life" and he attempted to climb. The airplane would not out climb the rising terrain located in the direction of the intended flight. Examination of the engine at the accident site by an Alaska Aircraft Sales mechanic showed no reason for the engine problem. The carburetor was removed and reinstalled on the replacement engine. The ground test was normal and the subsequent flight was normal. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A GLASSY WATER LANDING MANEUVER ON A LAKE. THE AIRPLANE FLEW PAST THE PILOT'S INTENDED POINT OF LANDING, AND HE ABORTED THE LANDING BY RAPIDLY APPLYING POWER. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE COUGHED AND THEN 'CAME TO LIFE' BUT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT OUTCLIMB RISING TERRAIN IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS FLIGHT PATH. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12