Dehavilland DHC-2 accident near Dillingham, Alaska, June 23, 2018
On June 23, 2018 at about 1:30 am local time, a 1954 Dehavilland DHC-2, registered N5221G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Dillingham, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2018 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-2, built 1954 · all DHC-2s on the register
- Registration
- N5221G · registry record · serial 667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was landing a float-equipped airplane in gusty, tailwind conditions on a remote river. After touching down on the water, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind turned the tail of the airplane about 45° to the left. The airplane then impacted the riverbank, continued onto the shore, and struck trees, which resulted in substantial damage to 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 landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
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
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 2018; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5NK Naknek AK
- Destination: Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 23, 2020. 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 |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5221G 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.