De Havilland DHC-2 accident near Ketchikan, AK
On October 13, 1996, a De Havilland DHC-2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, AK. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 13, 1996
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 55.610°N, 131.580°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06825
NTSB summary
History of the Flight On October 13, 1996, about 1455 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped deHavilland DHC-2, N64276, collided with terrain about 38 miles north of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Seaside Air Service, Ketchikan, was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers received fatal injuries. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane base at 1358. The flight was for the purpose of transporting the passengers to a remote area for goat hunting. After departure, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan at 1204 with the Ketchikan Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). The pilot indicated the planned destination was Reflection Lake, located about 43 miles north of Ketchikan. There was no further communications from the airplane. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected in the area of the accident about 1455. Local area pilots became concerned and began search operations. The flight was officially declared overdue at 1636 and the wreckage was located about 1640. Search personnel reported that the airplane struck the side of a steep canyon wall about 2,850 feet mean sea level. The wreckage then tumbled down the side of the canyon about 300 feet. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at latitude 55 degrees, 59.021 minutes north and longitude 131 degrees, 42.176 minutes west. Crew In
Probable cause
continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather condition, and his failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were the high/mountainous terrain, and weather conditions that included low ceilings.
More accidents in AK
- Beech 1900C, Nov 23, 1987
- Textron Aviation Inc 208B, Feb 6, 2025
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jul 7, 2013
- Cessna 208, Oct 10, 2001
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jun 25, 2015
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.
