Ketchikan AK preliminary Float Plane NTSB accident report

[nnfham]

NTSB Identification: ANC07FA068

Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Accident occurred Tuesday, July 24, 2007 in Ketchikan, AK

Aircraft: de Havilland DHC-2, registration: N995WA

Injuries: 5 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 24, 2007, about 1405 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N995WA, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous tree-covered terrain, about 40 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand air tour flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Venture Travel LLC, dba Taquan Air Service, of Ketchikan. The airline transport pilot and the four passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were reported in the area at the time of the accident. The flight departed Ketchikan about 1319, for a tour through the Misty Fjords National Monument. A company VFR flight plan was in effect.

 

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 24, the operator's president reported that the accident airplane departed Ketchikan as the second of three float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplanes on air tour flights over the Misty Fjords National Monument. He said that each airplane departed from Ketchikan about 5 minutes apart, and the standard route of flight is northeast, over an area of remote inland fjords, coastal waterways, and mountainous tree-covered terrain. The 1 hour and 15 minute flightseesing tour includes a landing on one of the inland ocean fjords before returning to Ketchikan.

 

During an interview with the NTSB IIC on July 26, the pilot of the first tour airplane stated that initial weather conditions along his flight route consisted of about 10 miles visibility with an overcast layer about 1,500 feet msl. As the flight progressed into mountainous terrain, while approaching an area known as Punchbowl Lake, the pilot reported "there were lots of misty clouds hanging around the cliffs." The flight continued along the preplanned flight route, towards a shallow mountain pass known to local tour pilots as "the cut." The first pilot said that before entering the cut, he transmitted a radio message on a common radio frequency asking other tour pilots flying in the area if the cut was open. He said that an unknown pilot responded, saying that the cut was open, and that he would need to be at about 2,500 msl to get through. The first pilot said that after passing through the cut he encountered low clouds, rain, fog, with visibility of 2 to 3 miles. He said that he was able to maintain VFR flight conditions by descending to about 700 feet msl, over an ocean fjord. According to the pilot of the first tour airplane, he estimated that the accident airplane was about 5 to 7 minutes behind him.

 

In an interview with the NTSB IIC on July 26, the pilot of the third tour airplane stated that he was about 5 minutes behind the accident airplane as his airplane approached Punchbowl Lake. He said he heard the first airplane's pilot radio call inquiring about the weather conditions in the cut, as well as the unknown pilot's response concerning current conditions within the cut. Additionally, he recalled hearing a standard position report from the accident airplane's pilot reporting that he was over Punchbowl Lake. The pilot of the third airplane stated that just after entering the cut, he encountered "a wall of weather" which blocked his intended flight route. He said that the weather conditions consisted of low clouds, rain, and fog. He said he turned the airplane around, took an alternate route, completed his tour, and returned to Ketchikan.

 

When the accident airplane failed to return to Ketchikan by 1435, and company dispatch personnel were unable to establish radio contact, a company aerial search was initiated. The flight was officially reported overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at 1500. After being notified of the overdue airplane, the company's director of operations, along with other Taquan Air airplanes and pilots, began a search for the missing airplane.

 

About 1625, company search airplanes detected a faint emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal from an area of mountainous and tree-covered terrain. A helicopter from Temsco Helicopters, Inc., of Ketchikan was dispatch to the suspected accident site, with members of the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS).

 

About 1730, the pilot of the helicopter discovered the airplane's fragmented wreckage in an area of steep, tree-covered terrain, about 2,300 feet msl. Subsequently, KVRS team members reached the accident site, and confirmed that the airplane's occupants had sustained fatal injuries.

[baabtx]

Friend of Mine did the exact float plane trip the week prior on another Princess cruise - after hearing of this accident said it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up...somewhat freaky.

[libertybelle41]

very sad, tragic accident.