Amateur-built DHC2 MK1 incident near Iliamna, Alaska, July 16, 1991
On July 16, 1991 at about 7:45 am local time, a amateur-built DHC2 MK1, registered N6LU, suffered minor damage in an incident near Iliamna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH AND GUSTY WINDS IN THE ACCIDENT AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1991 · about 7:45 am local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC2 MK1
- Registration
- N6LU · registry record · serial 908
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID WEATHER. HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY OVER A HILL AND A DOWNDRAFT BEGAN TO PUSH HIM INTO THE HILL. HE APPLIED FULL POWER BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. CONSEQUENTLY, HE EXECUTED A LANDING ON THE HILLTOP. WIND IN THE AREA WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SOUTH AT 60 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND TO BE FROM 110 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985SB3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Alexander Lake AK at 1:30 am
- Destination: Field Site AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 60 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC91IA102.