Klawock – Ketchikan
Flight / Schedule
Klawock – Ketchikan
Aircraft
Beechcraft G18SRegistration
N103AF
MSN
BA-526
Year of Manufacture
1960
Operator
Point to PointDate
March 3, 2017 at 08:15 AM
Type
CRASHFlight 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 PointFlight Type
Private
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
