Dehavilland DHC-3 accident near Soldotna, AK

On July 7, 2013, a Dehavilland DHC-3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Soldotna, AK. 10 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 7, 2013

Place

Soldotna, AK

Aircraft

Dehavilland DHC-3 · Airplane

Injuries

10 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

60.475°N, 151.044°W

NTSB ID

20130707X14623

Official records · DCA13MA121

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
• Investigation page: status, final report and safety recommendations

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 7, 2013, about 1120 Alaska daylight time, a deHavilland DHC-3 Otter airplane, N93PC, collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska. The commercial pilot and nine passengers died, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Rediske Family Limited Partnership, Nikiski, Alaska, and was operated by Rediske Air, Nikiski, Alaska, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand charter flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was destined to Bear Mountain Lodge, about 90 miles southwest of Soldotna. On the day of the accident, the pilot was in Nikiski and was scheduled to fly a different trip with the accident airplane, but shortly before the planned departure time, the trip was canceled. The group of nine passengers on board the accident flight had been scheduled to go to the lodge in two of the operator's smaller airplanes; however, the pilot decided to use the Otter after his previous flight was canceled so that the group could fly together on one plane. The lodge operator, who was in Nikiski before the departure, requested that a load of groceries and lodge supplies be flown with the group and brought the supplies to Rediske Air's base of operations. The lodge operator estimated the cargo weighed about 300 lbs. After the pilot unloaded the cargo from the canceled flight, he and the lodge owner loaded the groceries and lodge supplies on the accident airplane. Rediske Air did not keep fueling records

Probable cause

The operator's failure to determine the actual cargo weight, leading to the loading and operation of the airplane outside of the weight and center of gravity limits contained in the airplane flight manual, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to require weight and balance documentation for each flight in 14 Code of F

More accidents in AK

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Browse: Alaska · Dehavilland aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.