Amateur-built DHC-6 accident near Toksook Bay, Alaska, July 13, 2002
On July 13, 2002 at about 6:26 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-6, registered N885EA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toksook Bay, Alaska (Toksook Bay airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A bird strike during takeoff, which resulted in damage to the right wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2002 · about 6:26 pm local time
- Place
- Toksook Bay, Alaska · Toksook Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-6
- Registration
- N885EA · no longer on the register · serial 454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The scheduled air carrier flight had just lifted off the runway and started to climb, when it encountered a flock of birds. One or more of the birds struck the right wing of the airplane. The airplane continued to its destination, and landed without incident. About 6 feet of the right wing's leading edge, and 2 wing ribs were replaced due to the bird strike.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,584 hours in all; 2,420 in this make and model; 251 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 1,785 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 1,650 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,261 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 27, 2002; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OOK Toksook Bay AK at 1:26 pm
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 1,800 ft by 55 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.56 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 am from PAMY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 11 |
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.