2019 Alaska mid-air collision
On May 13, 2019, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplane operated by Mountain Air Service collided with a Taquan Air de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane over George Inlet, Alaska, United States.[1] The DHC-2 broke up in mid-air with the loss of the single pilot and all 4 passengers. The DHC-3 pilot was able to maintain partial control, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage in the collision and the subsequent forced landing; the pilot suffered minor injuries, 9 passengers suffered serious injuries, and 1 passenger was killed. Both aircraft were conducting sightseeing flights. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).[1]
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 13, 2019 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision; under investigation |
| Site | George Inlet, Alaska, United States 55°25′32″N 131°30′18″W |
| Total fatalities | 6 |
| Total injuries | 10 |
| Total survivors | 10 |
| First aircraft | |
.jpg.webp) N952DB, the DHC-2 Beaver involved | |
| Type | de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver |
| Operator | Mountain Air Service |
| Registration | N952DB |
| Flight origin | Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base |
| Destination | Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base |
| Occupants | 5 |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 5 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
 De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Type | de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter |
| Operator | Taquan Air |
| Call sign | Taquan |
| Registration | N959PA |
| Flight origin | Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base |
| Destination | Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base |
| Occupants | 11 |
| Passengers | 10 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 10 |
| Survivors | 10 |
Aircraft
The first accident aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplane, FAA aircraft registration number N952DB, serial number 237, owned and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC. The second accident aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane, FAA number N959PA, serial number 159, owned by Pantechnicon Aviation Ltd. and operated by Taquan Air.[1][2][3] Both aircraft were conducting local sightseeing flights of the Misty Fiords National Monument area for the benefit of passengers of a Princess Cruises cruise ship docked in Ketchikan, Alaska[4] and were operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as on-demand sightseeing flights. Neither aircraft carried, or was required to carry, a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder.[1]
Crash
Both aircraft were returning to Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base approximately 7 mi (11 km) southwest. The DHC-2 was flying at 107 knots (198 km/h) at an altitude of about 3,350 feet (1,020 m) mean sea level (MSL) while the DHC-3 was gradually descending at 126 knots (233 km/h) from an altitude of 3,700 feet (1,100 m) MSL. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The DHC-3 was equipped with an Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) collision warning system, but the pilot did not perceive any ADS-B collision warnings before he saw a "flash" to his left, and the two aircraft collided at 12:21 PM local time at an altitude of about 3,350 feet (1,020 m) MSL.[1]
The DHC-3 pitched about 40 degrees nose down, but pilot was able to maintain partial control and perform a landing flare before touching down in George Inlet.[1] The floats separated from the aircraft and it began to sink; the pilot and 9 passengers were able to evacuate to shore with the help of bystanders, but 1 passenger was trapped in the wreck.[5] The DHC-3 came to rest under about 80 ft (24 m) of water.[1]
The DHC-2 broke up in mid-air, creating an approximately 2,000 ft by 1,000 ft (610 m by 305 m) debris field about 1.75 mi (2.82 km) southwest of the DHC-3 crash site. The DHC-2 fuselage, empennage, and cabin structure were separated from one another, and the right wing showed damage consistent with propeller impacts.[1]
Passengers and crew
The DHC-3 airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries, 9 passengers sustained serious injuries, and 1 passenger sustained fatal injuries; the DHC-2 pilot and 4 passengers suffered fatal injuries.[1] 6 injured victims were admitted to a local hospital and 4 others were evacuated to Seattle. 2 bodies were not recovered until the following day.[4]
Aftermath
The deceased DHC-2 pilot was also co-owner of Mountain Air Service and the company canceled all operations after the crash.[6] Taquan Air Flight 20 crashed one week later on 20 May and the airline suspended all flights the following day.[7][8] Amid increased oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Taquan resumed limited cargo service on 23 May,[9] scheduled passenger flights on 31 May, and on-demand sightseeing tours on June 3.[10]
References
- Aviation Accident Preliminary Report CEN19MA141B (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Federal Aviation Administration (May 22, 2019). "N-Number Inquiry Results N952DB". Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Federal Aviation Administration (May 22, 2019). "N-Number Inquiry Results N959PA". Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Stack, Liam; Zaveri, Mihir; Victor, Daniel (May 14, 2019). "2 More Bodies Found After Alaska Plane Collision, Bringing Death Toll to 6". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Hollander, Zaz (May 22, 2019). "NTSB: Pilot saw 'flash from left' before midair collision near Ketchikan that killed 6". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- Hollander, Zaz; DeMarban, Alex (May 17, 2019). "Company involved in midair collision near Ketchikan suspends cruise-line air tours". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- Stack, Liam (May 21, 2019). "Airline Involved in 2 Deadly Alaska Crashes Suspends Operations, Officials Say". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Hohenstatt, Ben (May 21, 2019). "UPDATE: Passenger, pilot in fatal crash near Metlakatla are ID'd". Juneau Empire. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- DeMarban, Alex (May 29, 2019). "After 2 recent fatal crashes, Taquan Air is expected to resume passenger service Wednesday". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- Tobin, Rebecca (June 7, 2019). "Taquan Air resumes operations". travelweekly.com/. Travel Weekly. Retrieved June 9, 2019.