Pilot Debrief

DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 near Katmai National Park, AK — 2010-08-21

Final reportANC10FA100
Sign in to save
Date
2010-08-21
Location
Katmai National Park, AK, USA
Aircraft
DEHAVILLAND DHC-2
Registration
N9313Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
4
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

Undetermined.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot departed a remote, oceanside lagoon in a float-equipped airplane with three passengers on an on-demand air taxi flight in reduced visibility and heavy rain. When the airplane did not reach its destination, the operator reported the airplane overdue. Extensive search-and-rescue efforts along the coast and inland failed to find the wreckage. After the search ended, small portions of the fragmented airplane washed ashore about 28 miles northeast of the departure lagoon. The remainder of wreckage has not been located despite sonar searches of the ocean near where the wreckage was found. A stowed tent and duffle bag, which were reported to be aboard the airplane, were also found ashore near the wreckage location. The tent and duffel bag exhibited evidence of exposure to a high temperature environment, such as a fire. However, there was no evidence indicating that the fire occurred in flight. The lack of soot on the undamaged areas of the items, as well as the very abrupt demarcation line between the damaged portion and the undamaged material, is consistent with these items floating in the water and being exposed to a fuel fire on the surface of the water, rather than having been exposed to a fire in the airplane’s cargo compartment. Due to the fragmentation of the recovered wreckage, it is likely that the airplane collided with ocean’s surface while in flight; however, because the engine and a majority of the wreckage have not been found, the sequence of events leading to the accident could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have delayed departure due to deteriorating weather conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 19 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents19

Related mishaps