What happened
On July 12, 2023, at approximately 16:30 Alaska daylight time, a DeHavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), registration N302BL, was involved in an accident near Twin Hills, Alaska. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 business flight.
Immediately after taking off from the water, the pilot reported hearing a loud bang, followed by the aircraft impacting the water. Passengers described hearing a sound similar to a metal hammer strike or a snapping cable. The aircraft performed a sharp left turn, causing the left wing to dip into the water, which caused the plane to pivot. The aircraft came to rest in a fragmented and mostly submerged state.
There were no fatalities, but the accident resulted in 2 serious injuries and 2 minor injuries. The pilot was not injured.