Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, December 28, 1989
On December 28, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N67691, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. 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
IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE WATER. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · 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
- N67691 · registry record · serial 540
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PRPTD THAT AFTER MAKING A SEA LANDING NEAR RASPBERRY STRAIT, THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED TO AN ESTIMATED 30 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 45 KTS. HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF TOWARD THE WEST FOR THE RETURN FLT. HE SAID THAT AT ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER, THE ACFT ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT & ITS NOSE PITCHED DOWNWARD. HE CORRECTED WITH FULL POWER & OPPOSITE AILERON, BUT THE ACFT CONTACTED THE WATER BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER. DRG IMPACT, THE 2 FRONT COMPARTMENTS OF THE RIGHT FLOAT RUPTURED & THE RIGHT FLOAT STRUT FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT FLOAT SANK & THE ACFT ROLLED OVER IN THE WATER.
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
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,040 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADQ at 4:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 30 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.