Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, July 13, 1989
On July 13, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N5354G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOW IFR FLT CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH RISING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N5354G · registry record · serial 887
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT THE 1800 FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN PASS, NEAR KODIAK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND FOUR PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PASS WAS REPORTED CLOSED DUE TO IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,862 hours in all; 949 in this make and model; 420 in the last 90 days; 142 in the last 30 days; 9,662 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,136 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KMY Akhiok AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: ADQ Kodiak AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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 N5354G 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.