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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2022 · about 2:30 am local time
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N24BR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ANC22LA078.