Republic RC-3 SEABEE accident near Ketchikan, AK
On May 25, 1996, a Republic RC-3 SEABEE (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 25, 1996
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 SEABEE · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 55.679°N, 132.189°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05679
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 24, 1996, approximately 1800 Alaska daylight time, an amphibian Republic, RC-3 Seabee airplane, N99FJ, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed into Eagle Lake located 43 nautical miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska, at geographic coordinates 131 degrees, 27 minutes west, 56 degrees, 3 minutes north. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was supposed to depart Eagle Lake and fly to Ketchikan to pick up the pilot's son. The airplane never arrived at Ketchikan. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane sank in the lake and the wreckage has not been recovered. According to information from the passenger's personal diary, the Seabee airplane was parked on the beach and the lake water rose and submersed the tail end of the airplane. During an interview with Mr. Tyler Robinson of Sunrise Aviation, Wrangell, Alaska, on May 25, 1996, he stated that on May 23, 1996, he received a call from the Coast Guard in Ketchikan relaying a message from the pilot of N99FJ. The message stated that the pilot of N99FJ was having airplane problems at Eagle Lake. Mr. Robinson and a mechanic, Mr. John Calvert, flew to Eagle lake on May 23, 1996 and arrived at the lake at 1630. Mr. Robinson stated that they saw the airplane, N99FJ, with the tail sunk in the water over an embankment. Mr. Robinson said that the pilot told him the airplane had been that way for a couple of days. Mr. Robinson and the mechanic returned to Wrangell without raisin
Probable cause
the airplane crashed for undetermined reason(s).
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Browse: Alaska
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
