Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 accident near Iliamna, Alaska, July 22, 2009
On July 22, 2009 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, registered N68088, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Iliamna, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area with an unfavorable wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2009 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 · all BEAVER DHC-2s on the register
- Registration
- N68088 · registry record · serial 1197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a river, downstream, in a float-equipped airplane, on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, on demand charter flight. He said that wind conditions were calm just before starting his southerly takeoff run. Just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed to about 20 feet above the water, it stopped climbing as it neared the departure end of the site. The airplane then descended into an area of tree-covered terrain, and came to rest about 400 feet from the bank of the river. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and said that after the accident, he noticed occasional gusts of wind from the northwest.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 5,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,376 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 2009; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Iliamna Air Taxi INC
The flight
- Departed from: Iliamna AK at 12:40 pm
- Destination: ILI Iliamna AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.