Amateur-built DHC-3 accident near Juneau, Alaska, July 31, 2006
On July 31, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-3, registered N93356, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting the surface of the water. Factors associated with the accident were the flat-light and glassy water conditions, which affected the pilot's ability to see the surface of the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-3
- Registration
- N93356 · registry record · serial 144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was transporting passengers in a float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when it collided with the surface of the water during landing. The pilot reported that he was in a descending right turn in preparation for landing, and was looking for shoreline dock as a landing reference. Prior to seeing the dock, the airplane struck the water. The left rear seat passenger said he wasn't aware the airplane was landing, and thought they were still making the approach when the airplane impacted the water. A witness who watched the accident from the ground, said there was fog and low clouds in the area, and that surface visibility was about 1 mile. The witness said as the airplane descended, he thought, " If he doesn't pull up, he's going to hit the water." The witness said the right float and wing hit the water in a right turn, and that he never heard the airplane reduce power, or saw the airplane level off before impact. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and said in his written statement to the NTSB that glassy water, and flat-light conditions made it difficult to discern the surface of the water. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 7,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,040 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2006; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ward Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: 5Z1 Juneau AK at 2:10 pm
- Destination: Berners Bay AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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.