Viking Air Limited DHC-6-400 accident near Half Moon Bay, CA
On May 20, 2023, a Viking Air Limited DHC-6-400 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Half Moon Bay, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 20, 2023
- Place
- Half Moon Bay, CA
- Aircraft
- Viking Air Limited DHC-6-400 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.599°N, 123.147°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230520184404
Official records · WPR23LA192
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On May 20, 2023, at about 1354 Pacific daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-6-400, N153QS, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Pacific Ocean near Half Moon Bay, California, and sank. The pilot and one passenger onboard were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the accident site. The operator reported that the airplane had a ferry fuel tank system installed for the trans-Pacific flight. The two aircraft main tanks were filled with fuel, then the two forward ferry bladder tanks and the one smaller bladder took on fuel. Fueling documentation revealed that the fixed-based operator at the Charles M Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California, added 1,189 gallons of fuel the day prior to the flight. The airplane’s amphibious floats were removed for the flight. The flight departed STS and was destined for Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. Satellite flight tracking data showed the airplane departed to the southwest over the ocean and climbed to an altitude of about 15,500 ft mean sea level (msl). About 4 hours into the flight, the crew contacted ATC and reported that they were having a fuel transfer problem and were thinking of turning around. The crew then reported they were declaring an emergency and had 10 hours of fuel remaining but could only access about 2 hours of fuel. About 356 miles from the California coast, the flight track reversed course to the northeast, towards STS. About 132 miles from the coast the flight track
Probable cause
The failure of the ferry fuel tank system to transfer fuel during a trans-Pacific flight for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent ditching into the water.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
