De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver crash, Mar 6, 2003, Whitsunday...
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident on March 6, 2003 near Whitsunday Island, Queensland, Australia with no fatalities. Cause: Loss of directional...
- Date: March 6, 2003
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
- Location: Whitsunday Island, Queensland, Australia
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Loss of directional control on touchdown in unfavorable wind and sea conditions, with a lower than ideal pitch attitude and the pilot's limited open-water experience as factors. The non-standard floats were judged unlikely to be a significant factor.
A de Havilland Beaver on floats was positioning to Whitehaven Beach in strong wind and rough water. On touchdown it swung sharply right and then left, and the left wing struck the water and the aircraft overturned. The pilot exited, activated a distress beacon and was located and rescued about two hours later.