Casualties unknown

Commercial Pilot Reports Wind Gust During Off-Airport Landing Leading to Nose-Over (N24BR)

King Salmon, AK, US

On October 7, 2007, a DE Havilland DHC-2 (registration N24BR) operated by Branch River Air was involved in an aviation accident near King Salmon, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions during the final approach to land, which resulted in the airplane colliding with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusty wind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

A commercial certificated pilot conducting a Part 135 off-airport landing reported that a wind gust lifted the right wing, causing the left wing to strike the ground. The airplane nosed over after skidding 50 feet.

Incident Overview

A commercial certificated pilot was conducting an off-airport landing with passengers under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 135, when an incident occurred. The pilot reported being on short final, approximately 8 to 10 feet above the ground, when a sudden gust of wind affected the aircraft.

Pilot Account

According to the pilot, a "gust or something" lifted the right wing to an angle of 50 to 60 degrees above horizontal. As a result, the left wing struck the ground. The pilot was able to level the wings, but the airplane touched down while drifting to the left. After touchdown, the airplane skidded forward for about 50 feet and then nosed over.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained damage to several components, including the left wingtip, the left wing aft attach point, and the right landing gear attach point.

Wind Conditions

The pilot reported that the wind was from 300 degrees at 25 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20071120X01824. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.