Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Kenai, Alaska, July 16, 1994
On July 16, 1994 at about 7:25 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N2297R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT USE THE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST TO CONFIRM THAT THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED FOR THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1994 · about 7:25 am local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N2297R · registry record · serial 742
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN A HURRY TO TAKEOFF BEFORE IT GOT DARK. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF WITH THE FLAPS RETRACTED BECAUSE HE DID NOT USE THE PLANE'S TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. HE RECOGNIZED HIS ERROR ABOUT THREE-FOURTHS INTO THE TAKEOFF RUN. HE REASONED THAT IT WAS SAFER TO ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE FLAPS AND CONTINUE WITH THE TAKEOFF RATHER THAN ABORT. THE PLANE OVERRAN THE SHORELINE AND COLLIDED WITH TREES A SHORT DISTANCE BEYOND. THE PLANE'S CHECKLIST WAS LOCATED ON THE FLIGHT CONTROL YOKE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PILOT.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,432 hours in all; 1,170 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 113 in the last 30 days; 4,267 as pilot in command; 248 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1994; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N2297R 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.