Amateur-built DHC-2 MKI accident near Holitna River, Alaska, September 25, 1991
On September 25, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2 MKI, registered N17394, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holitna River, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE AIRPLANE'S FLOAT HIT A SUBMERGED LOG DURING LANDING ON THE RIVER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND CRASHING INTO THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Holitna River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2 MKI
- Registration
- N17394 · no longer on the register · serial 495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE RIVER, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT FLOAT HIT A SUBMERGED LOG. THE AIRPLANE THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1991; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDV Red Devil AK at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 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.
Other NTSB records under N17394 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.