De Havilland DHC-3 accident near Juneau, AK
On June 23, 1994, a De Havilland DHC-3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Juneau, AK. 7 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 23, 1994
- Place
- Juneau, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-3 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 7 fatal, 4 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 58.580°N, 134.770°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01412
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 22, 1994, at 2015 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Dehavilland, DHC-3 Otter, N13GA, registered to and operated by Wings of Alaska, of Juneau, Alaska, crashed into the Taku Inlet, 12 miles east of Juneau. The Air Taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, last departed the Taku Lodge located on the Taku river, and the destination was the Juneau downtown dock. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a company flight plan was in effect. The airplane received substantial damage. The Commercial Certificated Pilot and three passengers received serious injuries, six passengers received fatal injuries, and one passenger is missing and presumed fatal. According to the Company, cruise ships contract with them to provide shore cruise excursions to the passengers who so desire a trip. The cruise ships dock at the Juneau downtown dock and the airplanes board and discharge the passengers at that location. The on board shore cruise director has the option of selling a passenger a ticket on behalf of the airline charter company or providing the passengers with information. The airline charter company, Wings of Alaska, also sells tickets at the downtown dock. The passengers for this flight had purchased tickets from the cruise ship's shore cruise director. This trip was to go from Juneau downtown to the Taku Lodge where the passengers could either eat dinner or walk around the area. After approximately 1 hour on the ground they would board the airplanes for the return flight. The company stated that they had flights s
Probable cause
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE (CLEARANCE) ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE RIVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE SURFACE CONDITION OF THE RIVER (GLASSY WATER).
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Browse: Alaska · De Havilland aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
