Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, August 26, 2004
On August 26, 2004 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N49GB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a river bank during the takeoff run.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2004 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N49GB · registry record · serial 1181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was departing a remote river in a float-equipped airplane to transport fishing lodge guests to a wilderness lodge. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone conversation that he was departing down-river along a curved section of the river that was about 150 feet wide. During the takeoff, the airplane was on-step, accelerating toward the mouth of the river, when the floats of the airplane collided with a sand river bank, and the airplane continued onto the tidal beach area of the river. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, propeller, and the right wing. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that during the takeoff run, the aircraft would not accelerate, and he lost directional control. He reported that there was insufficient distance remaining to stop the airplane before hitting the river bank.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,478 hours in all; 935 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 6,309 as pilot in command; 1,636 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kodiak AK at 3:50 pm
- Destination: Port Alsworth AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.