Casualties unknown

Floatplane Wing and Elevator Damaged During River Taxi (N65223)

King Salmon, AK, US

On June 8, 2002, a DE Havilland DHC-2 (registration N65223) was involved in an aviation accident near King Salmon, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind while taxiing, resulting in the right wing striking the water. A contributing factor in the accident was the presence of a crosswind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A float-equipped airplane sustained wing and elevator damage while taxiing on a remote river after strong winds and current lifted the left wing, causing the right wingtip and elevator to strike the water.

Incident Details

During a taxi for takeoff from a remote river, a commercial certificated pilot in a float-equipped airplane reported that while executing a right turn, a combination of river current and strong winds caused the left wing to rise. As a result, the right wingtip and the right elevator contacted the water surface.

Pilot Report

The pilot indicated that the wind at the time was from the east at approximately 20 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots. The pilot attributed the wing lift to the interplay between the river current and the wind conditions.

Damage

The right wing was bent upward by about 30 degrees, and the right elevator sustained a bend at its mid-span point. The aircraft remained on the water following the incident.

Notes

No other information about the aircraft, operator, or location was provided in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020612X00864. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.