Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Kassan, Alaska, June 21, 1989
On June 21, 1989 at about 4:00 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N46DG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kassan, Alaska. It was a positioning 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 EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED USED BY THE PILOT IN THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1989 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Kassan, Alaska
- 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
- N46DG · registry record · serial 340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DROPPING OFF EQUIPMENT AT A LAKESIDE CABIN, THE PILOT BEGAN TAXIING THE FLOATPLANE ON WATER IN GUSTY DOWNWIND CONDITIONS IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF FROM THE LAKE. WHILE FAST TAXIING (ON THE STEP), HE NOTICED THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND RETARDED THE THROTTLE. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN WATER.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ketchikan Air Servic, INC
The flight
- Departed from: Kassan AK
- Destination: KTN Ketchikan AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.