Dehavilland DHC 2 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 1, 2014
On September 1, 2014 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1956 Dehavilland DHC 2, registered N93E, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during takeoff due to a malfunction of the engine-driven fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2014 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC 2, built 1956 · all DHC 2s on the register
- Registration
- N93E · registry record · serial 1149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, just after takeoff while the airplane was about 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. He attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He subsequently made a forced landing in an area of densely populated trees. During postaccident bench testing, the engine-driven fuel pump produced widely inconsistent fuel flow rates. Disassembly of the pump revealed that the oil seal on the spline driver shaft was split and that it was protruding through the opening in the thrust washer. The engine oil seal was not found inside the pump. It could not be determined whether the seal had ever been installed or if the seal had deteriorated inside the housing. The seal housing and pump bearings were dirty, and numerous pieces of foreign matter were noted within the seal and pump housing. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the fuel pump malfunctioned and caused a disruption of adequate fuel to the carburetor, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel pump › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,013.5 hours in all; 592 in this make and model; 11.1 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PALH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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 ANC14LA071.