Thorne River - Kasaan

On December 14, 1988 at 03:05 PM, Thorne River - Kasaan experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, operated by Ketchikan Air Service, with the event recorded near Kasaan Alaska.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot planned to land at a seaplane base that was located in a bowl shaped cove. During the landing, the aircraft touched down long on water swells and the pilot elected to go around. Witnesses reported that during the go-around, the pilot initiated a steep turn while still at low altitude to avoid buildings and rising terrain. However, the aircraft entered a steep descent and crashed on a wooden walkway along the shoreline near the seaplane dock. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine was evident. The pilot was killed and both passengers were seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration N89U, MSN 160, year of manufacture 1952.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 55.5395°, -132.4026°.