Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) accident near Anchorage, Alaska, March 26, 2013
On March 26, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), registered N995SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing on a snow-covered taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) · all DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)s on the register
- Registration
- N995SP · registry record · serial 995
- 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 wheel-/ski-equipped airplane was taxiing for departure on a snow-covered taxiway when he lost directional control in the deep snow and veered to the left, colliding with a parked airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The operator wrote that the accident may have been prevented if he had waited for the taxiway to be cleared of snow.
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 taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,200 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 16,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 Anchorage AK
- Destination: Skwentna AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point -11°F (-24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PANC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.