Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, July 12, 2002
On July 12, 2002 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N3129F, was destroyed in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering inside a box/blind canyon, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the box/blind canyon.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2002 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N3129F · no longer on the register · serial 903
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot of the float-equipped airplane was transporting passengers to a lodge at a remote lake. When the airplane did not arrive at the lake, a search was initiated, and two days later the wreckage of the airplane was located on the side of a box canyon about the 2,400 foot elevation level. The canyon is oriented approximately east-west, and the wreckage was distributed along a 100 foot debris field on the north flank of the canyon. Ground scars and wreckage distribution were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a steep left bank while executing a turn to reverse direction. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies was discovered.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,745 hours in all; 258 in this make and model; 182 in the last 90 days; 122 in the last 30 days; 168 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,698 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 5, 2002; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Minta INC
The flight
- Departed from: PALH Lake Hood AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: PAIL Iliamna AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from PALJ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.