Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2 accident near Illiamna, Alaska, August 1, 2014
On August 1, 2014 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 1957 Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2, registered N87808, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Illiamna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate landing technique that resulted in a landing area overrun. Contributing was the glassy water conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2014 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Illiamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2 MARKI, built 1957 · all BEAVER DHC 2s on the register
- Registration
- N87808 · no longer on the register · serial 56-0408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane at a remote lake, during glassy water conditions. Glassy water landings usually consume a considerable landing area. The pilot stated that during the landing, the airplane touched down in the typical area as in previous landings; however, the airplane remained on the step (the float/hull is supported on top of the water surface as opposed to plowing through it) longer than usual and the floats subsequently impacted the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land 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 › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Glassy › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 134 in the last 30 days; 17,000 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,575 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 2014; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Katmai Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LKK Kulik AK
- Destination: Illiamna AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from PAIG, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.