Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) accident near Twin Hills, Alaska, July 13, 2023
On July 13, 2023, a 1954 Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), registered N302BL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Twin Hills, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 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 initial climb for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2023 · cases in 2023
- Place
- Twin Hills, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), built 1954 · all DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)s on the register
- Registration
- N302BL · registry record · serial 613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that moments after takeoff from a lake he heard a loud bang, and the airplane impacted the water. The passengers stated that after takeoff there was a sound similar to a cable snap or a hammer hitting metal. The airplane made a hard left turn, and the left wing impacted the water. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane came to rest fragmented in a lake and the floats were not recovered; therefore, the fly wires and floats could not be examined, and the reason for the loss of control could not be determined.
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 in flight during initial climb
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 40,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,631.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-14B (piston); 8,809 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from ATG
Weather report (METAR): PATG 122356Z AUTO 10SM CLR 19/10 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP262 T01940100 10194 20156 58004 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Preaccident view of the airplane
Photograph 2 – View from shore of the airplane in the water
Photograph 3 – View of mostly submerged airplaneThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Wreckage Examination | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N302BL 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 R985-14B 9 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC23LA054.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.