Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Skwenta, Alaska, August 19, 1994
On August 19, 1994 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N1785R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwenta, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM AN OBJECT (TREE).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1994 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Skwenta, 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
- Registration
- N1785R · no longer on the register · serial 83
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE PREPARING TO DEPART A RIVER AREA ON A NON-SCHEDULED CFR PART 135 FISHING/GUIDE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED ENGINE POWER TO MOVE THE FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE FROM A SAND BAR ONTO THE RIVER. AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO MOVE, THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK A TREE STUMP, DAMAGING THE STABILIZER SPAR AND FUSELAGE.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 7, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Willow Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: W10 Willow AK at 8:00 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 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.
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.