Dehavilland DHC-2 accident near Egegik, Alaska, September 19, 2022
On September 19, 2022 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1953 Dehavilland DHC-2, registered N24BR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Egegik, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2022 · about 2:30 am local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Egegik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-2, built 1953 · all DHC-2s on the register
- Registration
- N24BR · registry record · serial 644
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a lake in a float-equipped airplane with passengers and hunting gear. He stated that the departure plan was to get the airplane on step into the wind, and then turn lengthwise and depart with a crosswind. During the takeoff run, the airplane “used a fair amount of water on step” before a gust of wind lifted the right wing. In an effort to correct for the gust, the pilot lowered the wing and added power, but the airplane was too close to the bank of the lake, which resulted in an impact with terrain and substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing and tail. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of NTSB Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that a step turn departure may have been more appropriate.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 257 in the last 90 days; 123 in the last 30 days; 8,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 23, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,112.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 9, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN14B (piston); 7,656 hours total
- Operator: Branch River Air Service Inc.
The flight
- Destination: PAKN King Salmon AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:30 pm
Weather report (METAR): PAPN 190233Z AUTO 30006KT 1SM -RA BR BKN004 OVC009 11/11 A2984 RMK AO2 RAB17 CIG 002V008 P0001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2022. 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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 N24BR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N24BR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Dehavilland DHC-2 255 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Dehavilland 861 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN14B 77 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- King Salmon Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N24BR 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC22LA078.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.