Amateur-built DHC2 accident near Broad Pass, Alaska, June 1, 1990
On June 1, 1990 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC2, registered N36841, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broad Pass, 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 conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS DELAY IN REVERSING COURSE (IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1990 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Broad Pass, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC2
- Registration
- N36841 · no longer on the register · serial L20A-1651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING FLT, HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS. TO AVOID CLOUDS IN A PASS, HE ELECTED TO REVERSE COURSE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS TOO CLOSE TO RISING TERRAIN & WOULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE TERRAIN GRADIENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Campbell Lake AK at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.