2019 Alaska mid-air collision


On May 13, 2019, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplane operated by Mountain Air Service collided with a Taquan Air de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane over George Inlet, Alaska, United States. The DHC-2 broke up in mid-air with the loss of the single pilot and all 4 passengers. The DHC-3 pilot was able to maintain partial control, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage in the collision and the subsequent forced landing; the pilot suffered minor injuries, 9 passengers suffered serious injuries, and 1 passenger was killed. Both aircraft were conducting sightseeing flights. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Aircraft

The first accident aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplane, FAA aircraft registration number N952DB, serial number 237, owned and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC. The second accident aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane, FAA number N959PA, serial number 159, owned by Pantechnicon Aviation Ltd. and operated by Taquan Air. Both aircraft were conducting local sightseeing flights of the Misty Fiords National Monument area for the benefit of passengers of a Princess Cruises cruise ship docked in Ketchikan, Alaska and were operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as on-demand sightseeing flights. Neither aircraft carried, or was required to carry, a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder.

Crash

Both aircraft were returning to Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base approximately 7 mi southwest. The DHC-2 was flying at at an altitude of about mean sea level while the DHC-3 was gradually descending at from an altitude of MSL. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The DHC-3 was equipped with an Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast collision warning system, but the pilot did not perceive any ADS-B collision warnings before he saw a "flash" to his left, and the two aircraft collided at 12:21 PM local time at an altitude of about MSL.
The DHC-3 pitched about 40 degrees nose down, but pilot was able to maintain partial control and perform a landing flare before touching down in George Inlet. The floats separated from the aircraft and it began to sink; the pilot and 9 passengers were able to evacuate to shore with the help of bystanders, but 1 passenger was trapped in the wreck. The DHC-3 came to rest under about 80 ft of water.
The DHC-2 broke up in mid-air, creating an approximately 2,000 ft by 1,000 ft debris field about 1.75 mi southwest of the DHC-3 crash site. The DHC-2 fuselage, empennage, and cabin structure were separated from one another, and the right wing showed damage consistent with propeller impacts.

Passengers and crew

The DHC-3 airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries, 9 passengers sustained serious injuries, and 1 passenger sustained fatal injuries; the DHC-2 pilot and 4 passengers suffered fatal injuries. 6 injured victims were admitted to a local hospital and 4 others were evacuated to Seattle. 2 bodies were not recovered until the following day.

Investigation

The NTSB immediately began an investigation of the accident.

Aftermath

The deceased DHC-2 pilot was also co-owner of Mountain Air Service and the company canceled all operations after the crash. Taquan Air Flight 20 crashed one week later on 20 May and the airline suspended all flights the following day. Amid increased oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, Taquan resumed limited cargo service on 23 May, scheduled passenger flights on 31 May, and on-demand sightseeing tours on June 3.