Klawock – Ketchikan

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Flight / Schedule

Klawock – Ketchikan

Aircraft

Beechcraft G18S

Registration

N103AF

MSN

BA-526

Year of Manufacture

1960

Operator

Point to Point

Date

March 3, 2017 at 08:15 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Metlakatla Alaska

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

55.1194°, -131.5749°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On March 3, 2017 at 08:15 AM, Klawock – Ketchikan experienced a crash involving Beechcraft G18S, operated by Point to Point, with the event recorded near Metlakatla Alaska.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river 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: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Aircraft reference details include registration N103AF, MSN BA-526, year of manufacture 1960.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 55.1194°, -131.5749°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

2

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Klawock – Ketchikan

Operator

Point to Point

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Beechcraft G18S

Registration

N103AF

MSN

BA-526

Year of Manufacture

1960