Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Chitina, Alaska, September 19, 1992
On September 19, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N513F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chitina, Alaska (Brysons Bar Airstrip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT IN COMMAND PREFLIGHT DECISION/PLANNING IN ATTEMPTING TAKEOFF WITHOUT PRUDENT AND SUFFICIENT PREPARATION TO ASSESS WIND DIRECTION. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TREES IN THE CLEARWAY AT THE AIRSTRIP END.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chitina, Alaska · Brysons Bar Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N513F · registry record · serial 1265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT/OWNER OF LODGE OPERATING DE HAVILLAND DHC2 LANDED AT 1,200 FOOT RIVER BAR STRIP AND LOADED 4 PASSENGERS AND LIGHT CARGO IN 'NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES.' TAKEOFF ABORTED JUST PRIOR TO PLANNED TAKEOFF WHEN PILOT REPORTED LACK OF ACCELERATION WITH NORMAL ENGINE POWER. OVERRUN INTO TREES BEYOND AIRSTRIP, COLLISION WITH TREES SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING AIRCRAFT. PILOT NOTED 10 TO 15 KNOT TAILWIND FOLLOWING ACCIDENT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,485 hours in all; 1,358 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 8,470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,063 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1992; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CXC Chitina AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 N513F 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.