No fatalities

1 Aug 2014: DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC 2 MARKI — Katmai Air and Kulik Lodge — Illiamna, AK

Illiamna, AK, United States

On 1 Aug 2014, a DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC 2 MARKI operated by Katmai Air and Kulik Lodge was involved in an aviation accident near Illiamna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate landing technique that resulted in a landing area overrun. Contributing was the glassy water conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A float-equipped airplane landed on a remote lake under glassy conditions, remained on step longer than usual, and the floats impacted the shoreline, causing substantial fuselage damage. No mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Overview

A float-equipped airplane was involved in a landing accident at a remote lake under glassy water conditions. The pilot reported that the aircraft touched down in the same area used for previous landings, but the airplane stayed on the step—where the floats skim the water surface rather than plowing through it—for an extended duration. As a result, the floats subsequently struck the shoreline.

Aircraft Damage

The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot confirmed that there were no pre-existing mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.

Remarks

The pilot noted that glassy water landings typically require a larger landing area. The incident highlights the challenges of such conditions, though no causal factors beyond the extended step phase were identified in the source.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotPitch control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation