Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 4, 1988
On September 4, 1988 at about 5:13 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N906JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks airport). It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1988 · about 5:13 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N906JS · registry record · serial 1659TB34
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A CLIMBOUT AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 TO 1200 FEET M.S.L. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN ENGINE FIRE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON THE TAXIWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMBUSTION CHAMBER LINER. THE TURBINE CHAMBER AND TURBINE BLADE WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE INFLIGHT FIRE AND UNCONTAINED CASE FAILURE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,152 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Minto Flats AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from FAI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N906JS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.