Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Nikiski, Alaska, June 24, 2002
On June 24, 2002 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N211AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nikiski, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive rate of descent resulting in a hard landing on water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2002 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nikiski, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N211AW · registry record · serial 1360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing toward the west in a float-equipped airplane. The wind was from the north, about five knots. The pilot indicated he was in the landing flare, and the airplane's airspeed was about 50 knots. As the airplane touched down, the left float dug into the water. The airplane pivoted to the left and nosed down. The left float was crushed upward against the fuselage. The pilot said that he and his passenger exited the airplane, which remained floating nose down for about 15 minutes. The airplane then slowly nosed over and remained floating upside down.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 24,300 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2002; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tyonek AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 2R3 Nikiski AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.