Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1 accident near Lopez Island, Washington, September 30, 2016
On September 30, 2016 at about 3:37 pm local time, a 1953 Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1, registered N6781L, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Lopez Island, Washington (Fishermans Bay airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land in an area of low visibility and ground fog, which resulted in collision with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2016 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Lopez Island, Washington · Fishermans Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1 MARKI, built 1953 · all BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1s on the register
- Registration
- N6781L · no longer on the register · serial 788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering at low altitude for a water landing, the commercial pilot of the float-equipped airplane encountered low visibility due to ground fog. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the airplane impacted the water, bounced, and impacted the water a second time before coming to rest upright. The airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator further reported that other company pilots who were flying on the day of the accident stated that the low visibility conditions were easily avoided by a slight course deviation.
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
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (descent) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 1,630 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 11, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,395.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 28, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985AN/14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kenmore Air Harbor INC
The flight
- Departed from: W55 Seattle WA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 81W Lopez WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; ovct at 400 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KFHR, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6781L 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.