Amateur-built DHC-2-T accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska, May 24, 1992
On May 24, 1992, a amateur-built DHC-2-T, registered N4478, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska. It was a personal 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'S INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE ENGINE'S FUEL SUPPLY BY SWITCHING OFF THE FUEL SHUT OFF. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT MUD IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1992
- Place
- Alexander Creek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2-T
- Registration
- N4478 · no longer on the register · serial 1653-TB30
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WANTED TO TURN ON THE CABIN HEAT SO HE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED A HANDLE WITHOUT LOOKING AT WHICH HANDLE HE WAS PULLING. HE INADVERTENTLY SHUT OFF THE FUEL SHUT OFF. THE CABIN HEAT HANDLE AND THE EMERGENCY FUEL SHUT OFF ARE LOCATED ON THE CENTER PEDESTAL, BEHIND THE VERTICAL COLUMN OF THE CONTROL YOKE, ABOUT 8 INCHES APART. EACH HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPED HANDLE AND EACH IS PLACARDED WITH A DIFFERENT COLORED PLACARD. THE FUEL SHUT OFF WAS SAFETY WIRED TO THE ON POSITION. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS. THE TIDE IN COOK INLET WAS RECEDING AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE MUD FLATS. THE FLOAT BRACES COLLAPSED UPON LANDING.
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: 1,641 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 769 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK at 7:05 pm
- Destination: DLG Dillingham AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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 N4478 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.