Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Juneau, Alaska, May 11, 2008
On May 11, 2008 at about 1:30 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N62355, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Juneau, Alaska (Juneau International airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Structural damage to the airplane as the result of a birdstrike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2008 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · Juneau International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N62355 · registry record · serial 1045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an on-demand air taxi flight, the pilot was approaching a seaplane base for landing in a float-equipped airplane when it collided with a large bird. An FAA airworthiness inspector, Juneau Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that the operator informed him of a collision with the bird that resulted in structural damage to the right wing leading edge.
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
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,950 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ward Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PANR Funter Bay AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: PAJN Juneau AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAJN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.