1998-07-30: DE Havilland DHC-2 — Nondalton, AK

Casualties unknown • Nondalton, AK, US

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate procedures/directives when he allowed a passenger to exit the cabin area while the propeller was still turning, and the passenger's failure to follow the pilot's instructions to stay away from the propeller. A factor associated with the accident is the passenger's unfamiliarity with aircraft.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot of the float equipped fishing lodge airplane instructed his passenger, a guide employed by the lodge, to exit the airplane's cabin and stand on a float in preparation for docking at a remote site. The pilot reminded the guide, a new lodge employee unfamiliar with aircraft, to stay behind the door until he shut the engine off, and the propeller had stopped. The guide did not stay behind the door, but walked forward on the float prior to engine/propeller stoppage. The guide was fatally injured when he was struck by the propeller.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1998-07-30 DE Havilland DHC-2 accident near Nondalton, AK?

The pilot of the float equipped fishing lodge airplane instructed his passenger, a guide employed by the lodge, to exit the airplane's cabin and stand on a float in preparation for docking at a remote site. The pilot reminded the guide, a new lodge employee unfamiliar with aircraft, to stay behind the door until he…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-07-30 involved a DE Havilland DHC-2, registration N123EF, at Nondalton, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate procedures/directives when he allowed a passenger to exit the cabin area while the propeller was still turning, and the passenger's failure to follow the pilot's instructions to stay away from the propeller. A factor associated with the accident is the passenger's unfamiliarity with aircraft.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X10462. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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