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1135
N9878R at Brooks Lodge, five hours before the accident.
Photo: Todd Boettcher © 18 July 2018 - 14:14 adt - Aird Archives
N9878R off on a trip.
Photo: Todd Boettcher © 10 July 2018 - Aird Archives
N9878R receiving a bunch of mods.
Photos: Kennedy Canarr © 23 November 2017
N9878R departs Lake Hood.
Photos: Todd Boettcher © 15 July 2017
N9878R looking Regal.
Photo: Todd Boettcher © 26 May 2016 - Aird Archives
N9878R in action again.
Photo: Chris Buckley © 2015 - Aird Archives
N9878R off with a load of plywood.
Photo: John W. Olafson © 08 July 2013
N9878R awaits a task.
Photo: Todd Boettcher © 09 May 2012
N9878R always coming or going.
Photo: Karsten Madrian © June 2007 - Aird Archives
N9878R off Lake Hood.
Photo: David Booster © 03 August 2006 - Aird Archives
N9878R outbound.
Photo: Neil Aird © 09 September 2004
N9878R of Regal Air at Lake Hood base.
Photos: Neil Aird © 06 September 2004
Photo: Marco Kosterman © 09 June 2001 - Aird Archives
Photo: John Kimberley © July 1992 - Aird Archives
N9878R sets out yet again.
Photo: Ruben Husberg © 20 May 1992
N88788 warms up on a choppy Lake Hood.
Photo: Alberto Storti © September 1990 - Aird Archives
N88788 at a gray Lake Hood.
Photo: Chris J. Mak © 1988 - Aird Archives
N88788 roped down securely at Lake Hood parking spot.
Photo: Kenneth I. Swartz © May 1987 - Aird Archives
N88788 at Vancouver - CYVR.
Photo: John Kimberley © July 1986 - Aird Archives
56-0398 at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Photo: Wayne Mutza © August 1970 - Aird Archives

1135

56-0398 • N5878 • N88788

N9878R

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56-0398 US Army # 1715. L-20 No. 716. Command A-11. Delivered 09-Sep-1957. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.

N5878 Details unknown.

N88788 Montcalm Community College, Sidney, MI. Regd 05-Jun-1973.

N88788 Keith N. Johnson, Anchorage, AK. On USCAR at 02-Mar-1990.

N9878R Craig M. Elg, Anchorage, AK. Regd 19-Jul-1990.

N9878R Craig M. & Sarah A. Elg / Regal Air, Anchorage, AK. Regd May-1991 On USCAR at 29-Feb-1992.

Airworthiness date: -07-May-1992. Classification – Restricted. Category – Other.

N9878R C & S Leasing Inc., Anchorage, AK. Regd 26-Apr-1994. Canx 13-Jun-2005.

N9878R Laughlin Acquisitions LLC., Anchorage AK. Regd 15-Aug-2005. Operated by Regal Air.

Note: In Regal Air colours Oct-2008.

Note: Receiving mods winter 2017, including larger baggage door, ski-plane doubler on tail, wipline 6,000 lbs gross kit, dual landing lights and new birdcage.

Accident 18-Jul-2018:

Aircraft stalled and crashed near mile 69, Parks Highway, Willow, AK. 1K 2inj.

Destroyed by fire

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According to the report, on July 18, 2018, about 19:00 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 (Beaver) airplane, N9878R, impacted tree-covered terrain following a loss of control during the initial climb from the Willow Seaplane Base, Willow, Alaska. Of the three people on board, the airline transport pilot died at the scene, and the two passengers received serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The airplane was registered to Laughlin Acquisitions, LLC., and operated by Alaska Skyways, Inc., dba Regal Air, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 visual flight rules on-demand passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and company flight following procedures were in effect. The accident flight originated from the Willow Seaplane Base about 1900 and was destined for a remote, unnamed lake about 61 miles northwest of Willow.

The operator reported that the accident flight was chartered by the Alaska Medicaid Travel Office to provide roundtrip transportation for one passenger from her private residence at the remote lake, to the Willow Seaplane Base and return. The operator flew the passenger and her 2.5-year-old son from their home to Willow Seaplane Base on July 16, and the accident flight was the chartered return trip to their residence.

On July 19, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) reviewed FAA archived automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) track data concerning the accident flight. According to the ADS-B track data, on July 18, the accident airplane departed from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base about 17:55 and arrived at the Willow Seaplane Base about 18:18.

Witnesses reported that after arriving at the Willow Seaplane Base, the pilot loaded the passenger's cargo, which according to a statement provided by the passenger, consisted of multiple bags of masonry mortar, three totes full of food and stores, two propane tanks, and miscellaneous baggage and supplies. Just prior to departure, the passenger was seated in the second row with her son on her lap.

As part of their company flight following procedures, Regal Air incorporates Spidertracks, which provides company management personnel with a real-time, moving map display of the airplane's progress. According to archived Spidertracks data provided by Regal Air, the airplane began an initial takeoff run to the south at 18:51. Numerous witnesses at Willow Lake stated that the airplane appeared heavy as they watched two takeoff attempts followed by a takeoff on the third run. At least three separate witnesses recorded the takeoff attempts on their mobile phones due to what they perceived as an unusual operation. Each witness stated that the airplane departed to the south and descended out of sight below the tree line. Soon thereafter, a loud airplane impact was heard.

At 19:00, multiple residents in a neighborhood southeast of Willow Lake heard a loud impact and witnessed smoke rising above the site. A neighbor responded and discovered the passenger walking with her son in her arms, outside of the airplane which was engulfed in flames. The Willow Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers responded. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received a 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter signal at 1901 and dispatched a HH-60 helicopter to the site.

On July 18, immediately after being notified of the accident, the NTSB IIC, along with an aviation safety inspector from the FAA's Anchorage Flight Standards District Office traveled to the site.

The airplane wreckage came to rest in a level wooded residential lot in a nose down attitude. The post-impact fire incinerated the fuselage, empennage, floats, and cargo.

The airplane was outfitted with Aerocet model 5850 floats and equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R-985 radial engine.

The closest official weather observation station to the accident site was located at the Willow Airport, about 1 miles to the northeast. On July 18, 2018, at 1956, the station was reporting, in part: wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; ceiling and clouds, clear; temperature 72° F; dew point 46° F; altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury.

The wreckage has been recovered and transported to a secure location for future examination.