Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, May 24, 2010
On May 24, 2010 at about 4:00 am local time, a Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, registered N4793C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Anchorage, Alaska. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
The commercial pilot’s loss of airplane control while landing in a crosswind, resulting in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the check pilot's inadequate supervision of the commercial pilot while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2010 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1 · all BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1s on the register
- Registration
- N4793C · registry record · serial 296
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor/check pilot was providing an annual corporate flight proficiency check ride to the commercial pilot in a float-equipped airplane. The commercial pilot receiving the proficiency review was appropriately rated and current by Federal Aviation Administration standards to operate float-equipped airplanes. After the commercial pilot completed a series of practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings to the south, the check pilot asked him to land to the west, which would require a correction for a left crosswind. The check pilot reported that, just after touchdown, the airplane veered immediately to the left, the right float submerged, and the airplane abruptly nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical anomalies.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,455 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 17, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 95,109 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 14, 2010; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol INC
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchoarge AK at 10:20 pm
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Runway 27
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4793C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.