De Havilland DHC-3 N11250

Summary

On 15 January 1989 at about 12:10 local time, a De Havilland DHC-3 registered N11250 was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 January 1989 at 12:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.6104, -131.5795

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-3

Registration

N11250

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ketchikan → Klawock

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA89FA036

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S INADVERTANT FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND THE STALL WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER DEPARTING THE FLOATPLANE BASE ON A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN, THE SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT PROCEEDED NORTHWEST ALONG A SALT WATER STRAIT AT A LOW ALTITUDE ABOVE WATER. TWO MILES NW OF THE ARPT THE ACFT ENTERED A SNOW SQUALL AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A STEEP TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AND SANK IN 167 FT DEEP WATER. SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS WERE SUSPENDED AFTER 4 DAYS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.