Amateur-built DHC2 accident near Susitna, Alaska, July 2, 2024
On July 2, 2024 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1956 amateur-built DHC2, registered N6LU, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Susitna, Alaska. It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in the floats contacting the shallow river bottom during takeoff, and a subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2024 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Susitna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC2 I, built 1956
- Registration
- N6LU · registry record · serial 908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a shallow river in a float-equipped airplane. She reported that she was almost on step when the airplane suddenly veered to the left toward the riverbank. She reduced engine power to abort the takeoff, however the airplane impacted the riverbank and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the pilot’s written statement, she reported that the airplane’s floats likely encountered the shallow river bottom during the takeoff run, resulting in the sudden left veer.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,570 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 123 in the last 30 days; 1,480 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35,313 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 25, 2024; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-14B (piston); 4,312 hours total
- Operator: Trail Ridge Air
The flight
- Departed from: PALH Anchorage AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: PALH Anchorage AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from ALH, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PALH 021153Z AUTO 20004KT 10SM BKN034 OVC075 12/07 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP238 T01170072 10150 20117 51012 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N6LU 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 ANC24LA060.