How many accidents has the De Havilland Dhc had?

The NTSB has recorded 353 events involving the De Havilland Dhc: 79 fatal, 34 serious, 26 minor injuries, and 198 incidents with no injuries.

Is the De Havilland Dhc a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The De Havilland Dhc has 353 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

De Havilland Dhc Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 353 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

353

All Events

198

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (356 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Sep 19, 1989	SLEEPY BAY, AK	N851TB	Incident	substantial	SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (WATER CONDITION) BY THE PILOT. THE ROUGH WATER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 02, 1989	SHEENJEK RIVER, AK	N17689	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE LANDING. … FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DOWNDRAFT, EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL ACTION, AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Sep 01, 1989	ILIAMNA, AK	N64273	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN OFF-AIRPORT OPERATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Jul 13, 1989	KODIAK, AK	N5354G	Serious (2)	substantial	PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOW IFR FLT CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH RISING TERRAIN.
Jun 24, 1989	ILIAMNA, AK	N5595M	Serious (2)	substantial	INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Jun 21, 1989	KASSAN, AK	N46DG	Incident	substantial	THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED USED BY THE PILOT IN THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY TAILWIND.
Jun 20, 1989	PALMER, AK	N41755	Incident	—	INADEQUATE LUBRICATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER'S TRIM ACTUATOR.
Jun 17, 1989	TRINITY CENTER, CA	N1215	Incident	substantial	AN INTERRUPTION OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Jun 13, 1989	ANCHORAGE, AK	N11GA	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.
May 29, 1989	ANGOON, AK	N67669	Fatal (1)	substantial	PILOT FAILED TO ASSURE THE LANDING GEAR ON THE AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS WERE RETRACTED FOR THE WATER LANDING.
Apr 19, 1989	PELICAN, AK	N62873	Fatal (2)	destroyed	IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIO… IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS.
Apr 14, 1989	BARROW, AK	N100AP	Incident	—	THE PROPAGATION OF A FATIGUE CRACK FROM MULTIPLE ORIGINS DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK MOUNTING QUADRANT.
Feb 10, 1989	FAIRBANKS, AK	N5056Q	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REMOVE FROST FROM THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE AND SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Jan 15, 1989	KETCHIKAN, AK	N11250	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S INADVERTANT FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND THE STALL WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE T… THE PILOT'S INADVERTANT FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND THE STALL WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED.
Jan 12, 1989	GUNNISON, CO	N926RM	Incident	minor	THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE DOWN LOCK MECHANISM RESULTING FROM THE NON-COMPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Jan 10, 1989	KETCHIKAN, AK	N67667	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER FLARE ATTITUDE AT TOUCHDOWN, CAUSING THE LEFT FLOAT TO DIG INTO THE WATER.
Dec 14, 1988	KASAAN, AK	N89U	Fatal (1)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Dec 04, 1988	HOMER, AK	N525EH	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 12, 1988	BONANZA HILLS, AK	N90574	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 24, 1988	ZACHER BAY, AK	N53546	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 16, 1988	MCGRATH, AK	N98JH	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 12, 1988	RUTH LAKE, AK	N67207	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 04, 1988	FAIRBANKS, AK	N906JS	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 18, 1988	SITKA, AK	N64398	Fatal (1)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jul 20, 1988	CHANTILLY, VA	N7267	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY MISUSED THE FLAPS, BY FAILING TO SET THE FLAPS TO THE PROPER SETTING. THE FLAPS WERE SET FULL DOWN. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT T… THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY MISUSED THE FLAPS, BY FAILING TO SET THE FLAPS TO THE PROPER SETTING. THE FLAPS WERE SET FULL DOWN. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH UP STEEPLY AFTER LIFTOFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLIGHT CONTROL LOCK WAS PROBABLY INSTALLED DURING SOME PORTION, IF NOT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT, WHICH PREVENTED FLIGHT CONTROL OPERATION. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S INATTENTION AND HIS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY USE THE CHECKLIST.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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De Havilland Dhc Safety Record

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