Niblack - Ketchikan

On March 13, 2012 at 10:40 AM, Niblack - Ketchikan experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, operated by Southeast Aviation, with the event recorded near Niblack Alaska.

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

2 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot departed from an off-airport site in marginal visual flight rules conditions. Shortly after departure, the weather worsened, and flight visibility dropped to near zero in heavy snow. He attempted to follow the shoreline at a low altitude but was unable to maintain visual contact with the ground. He stated that he saw trees immediately in front of the airplane and attempted a right turn toward what he thought was an open bay. During the turn, the right float contacted a rock outcrop, and the airplane impacted the water. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft reference details include registration N82SF, MSN 839, year of manufacture 1955.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 55.0668°, -132.1477°.