Amateur-built DHC-2 MK1 accident near Metlakatla, Alaska, December 7, 1987
On December 7, 1987 at about 5:10 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2 MK1, registered N17597, was substantially damaged in an accident near Metlakatla, Alaska (Metlakatla Seaplane airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1987 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Metlakatla, Alaska · Metlakatla Seaplane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2 MK1
- Registration
- N17597 · registry record · serial 500
- 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
ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED HIGH GUSTING WINDS. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STALLED AND ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. ACCORDNG TO ONE PASSENGER THE PILOT WAS HOLDING FULL AFT ELEVATOR DURING THE DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WATER HARD, BREAKING OFF THE FLOATS. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SANK SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER STRIKING THE WATER. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS NO STALL WARNING SYSTEM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,456 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 1,320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,857 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTN Ketchikan AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MTM Metlakatla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.