Dehavilland DHC 2 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, July 31, 2014
On July 31, 2014 at about 6:30 am local time, a 1957 Dehavilland DHC 2, registered N62197, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Talkeetna, Alaska (High Lake Lodge airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 preflight inspection that did not detect that the bulk fuel tank was full and led to an unanticipated heavy airplane weight and his failure to use the entire soft, wet, and muddy airstrip length for takeoff, which resulted in a takeoff overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2014 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · High Lake Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC 2, built 1957 · all DHC 2s on the register
- Registration
- N62197 · registry record · serial 1177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had been outfitted with a large, bulk fuel tank to transport fuel to remote sites. After a fuel delivery, the airplane departed from a soft, wet, and muddy sod-covered airstrip that was 1,400 ft long and 50 ft wide with a slight downhill grade. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff run, the airplane failed to become airborne before reaching the end of the airstrip, so he aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the airstrip and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The operator stated that, before the fuel delivery, the airplane was loaded with about 180 gallons of aviation fuel and that, after arriving at the airstrip, the pilot got out of the airplane, connected a hose and transfer pump system to the bulk fuel tank, and operated the transfer pump for about 5 minutes. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that all 180 gallons of fuel were still in the bulk fuel tank. According to the operator, the pilot did not open the drain valve to allow the tank to drain nor did he verify that the tank was empty before departing. Further, the operator stated that the pilot departed about midfield using only the last 750 ft of airstrip that remained; the estimated takeoff distance for the flight was between 800 and 900 ft.
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
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Runway excursion 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 › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,466.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Glenn Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Talkeetna AK
- Destination: IYS Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 26,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 am from PAEC, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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 N62197 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.