Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) accident near Point Baker, Alaska, July 26, 2023
On July 26, 2023, a 1955 Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), registered N6782L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Point Baker, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2023 · cases in 2023
- Place
- Point Baker, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), built 1955 · all DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)s on the register
- Registration
- N6782L · registry record · serial 820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff in a float-equipped airplane, with left quartering tailwind, a gust of wind resulted in a loss of directional control. He aborted the takeoff but was unable to regain control and the left wing impacted a pole which rotated the airplane to the left and the right wing struck a boat. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
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 › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 9, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 7,431 hours total
- Operator: Seawind Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: Point Baker AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from APG, 35 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAPG 252356Z 09004KT 10SM BKN046 18/13 A3002 RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// T01830128 52007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of fuselage and right wing
Photograph 2 – View of outer left wing leading edge
Photograph 3 – Closeup of bottom left side wing rootThe 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 February 1, 2024. 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 · 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 N6782L 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
- N6782L 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 1,593 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
- Other NTSB records under N6782L 1 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/ANC23LA057.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.