Narrative:
Five aircraft departed a lodge, one behind the other. Fog and drizzle were encountered, and the pilot of the first aircraft radioed to the pilots of the other aircraft to cross the river to the east shoreline. A passenger in the fourth aircraft (N13GA) stated that when the aircraft was over the middle of the river, she could not see either shore due to fog. The pilot of N13GA (a floatplane) stated that he encountered deteriorating weather & started a descent, intending to make a precautionary landing. He began to level, expecting conditions to improve. Subsequently, the floatplane hit the surface of 'glassy water' and crashed.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain altitude (clearance) above the surface of the river. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the surface condition of the river (glassy water)."
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Water
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 23 June 1994 |
| Time: | 20:15 ADT |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter |
| Operator: | Wings of Alaska |
| Registration: | N13GA |
| MSN: | 179 |
| First flight: | 1956 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7672 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 10 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Taku Inlet, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Taku Lodge-Taku SPB, AK (TKL), United States of America |
| Juneau Harbor Seaplane Base, AK, United States of America |
Five aircraft departed a lodge, one behind the other. Fog and drizzle were encountered, and the pilot of the first aircraft radioed to the pilots of the other aircraft to cross the river to the east shoreline. A passenger in the fourth aircraft (N13GA) stated that when the aircraft was over the middle of the river, she could not see either shore due to fog. The pilot of N13GA (a floatplane) stated that he encountered deteriorating weather & started a descent, intending to make a precautionary landing. He began to level, expecting conditions to improve. Subsequently, the floatplane hit the surface of 'glassy water' and crashed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain altitude (clearance) above the surface of the river. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the surface condition of the river (glassy water)."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
VFR flight in IMC Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Water
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Taku Lodge-Taku SPB, AK to Juneau Harbor Seaplane Base, AK as the crow flies is 34 km (21 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Taku Lodge-Taku SPB, AK to Juneau Harbor Seaplane Base, AK as the crow flies is 34 km (21 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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