Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, July 2, 2012
On July 2, 2012 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2, registered N1018A, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ketchikan, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a step turn on floats.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2012 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ketchikan, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 · all BEAVER DHC-2s on the register
- Registration
- N1018A · registry record · serial 178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that he planned to step taxi while making a left turn and then takeoff. He applied takeoff power to get the airplane on step, then reduced power, and started a turn to the left. The airplane turned to the left sharper than he anticipated. He applied right rudder and reduced left aileron. As the turn started to straighten out, the airplane’s right wing struck the water and sustained substantial damage. There were no preaccident mechanical issues with the airplane.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,925 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 4,531 as pilot in command; 765 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 3, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,310 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: S & S Aircraft Leasing INC
The flight
- Departed from: Ketchikan AK
- Destination: PAKT Ketchikan AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PAKT, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC12CA060.