Amateur-built Beaver DHC-2 MK.1 accident near Kenmore, Washington, August 4, 2008
On August 4, 2008 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Beaver DHC-2 MK.1, registered N53BV, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Kenmore, Washington (Kenmore Air Harbor Inc Spb airport). 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 failure to maintain aircraft control while water taxiing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to compensate for the wind condition and a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2008 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kenmore, Washington · Kenmore Air Harbor Inc Spb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Beaver DHC-2 MK.1
- Registration
- N53BV · registry record · serial 52-6119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after landing the float-equipped airplane in the water, and while on the step with a 7 to 10 knot, 45 to 50 degree left crosswind, the wind "sheared" to a [left] quartering tailwind. After veering to the left the pilot applied "strong" right rudder to counter the left yaw. The airplane's right wing tip subsequently struck the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S60 Kenmore WA
- Destination: S60 Kenmore WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.