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NTSB Report
May 13, 2019 · De Havilland DHC-2 · N952DB
Ketchikan, AK
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 13, 2019
Injury Outcomes
16 injuries (6 fatalities, 9 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Ketchikan, AK
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-2 (1952)
Tail Number
N952DB
Operator
Mountain Air Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CEN19MA141
On May 13, 2019, about 1221 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC 2 (Beaver) airplane, N952DB, and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter) airplane, N959PA, collided in midair about 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The DHC-2 pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-3 pilot sustained minor injuries, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-2 was destroyed, and the DHC-3 sustained substantial damage. The DHC-2 was registered to and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. The DHC-3 was registered to Pantechnicon Aviation LTD, Minden, Nevada, and operated by Venture Travel, LLC, dba Taquan Air, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident.
NTSB Probable Cause
The inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which prevented the two pilots from seeing the other airplane before the collision, and the absence of visual and aural alerts from both airplanes’ traffic display systems, while operating in a geographic area with a high concentration of air tour activity. Contributing to the accident were (1) the Federal Aviation Administration’s provision of new transceivers that lacked alerting capability to Capstone Program operators without adequately mitigating the increased risk associated with the consequent loss of the previously available alerting capability and (2) the absence of a requirement for airborne traffic advisory systems with aural alerting among operators who carry passengers for hire.
Full Narrative
On May 13, 2019, about 1221 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC 2 (Beaver) airplane, N952DB, and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter) airplane, N959PA, collided in midair about 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The DHC-2 pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-3 pilot sustained minor injuries, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-2 was destroyed, and the DHC-3 sustained substantial damage. The DHC-2 was registered to and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. The DHC-3 was registered to Pantechnicon Aviation LTD, Minden, Nevada, and operated by Venture Travel, LLC, dba Taquan Air, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:21 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftDe Havilland DHC-2
Tail NumberN952DB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMountain Air Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R985-AN-14B · Reciprocating · 450 | Pratt & Whitney Canada · PT6A-34 · Turboprop · 750
Seats7
People & Injuries
Injury Summary16 injuries (6 fatalities, 9 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal6
Serious9
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total16
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class · Fatal
Crew 2Age 60 · First Class · Minor
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 11 kt, gusting 17 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 37 C
Altimeter29.90 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC