De Havilland DHC-3 N13GA
23 June 1994 · Juneau, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 June 1994 at about 04:15 local time, a De Havilland DHC-3 registered N13GA, operated by Wings Airline Sevice, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 11 people were on board and 7 died, 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 04:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Juneau, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 58.5801, -134.7700
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-3
- Registration
- N13GA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Wings Airline Sevice
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Taku Lodge → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC94FA070
People
7 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
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).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB 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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other De Havilland DHC-3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1995 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1995 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Selawik, Alaska, United States | Nordic Flying Service | Unknown | - |
| 22 Jul 1992 | De Havilland DHC-3 | McGrath, Alaska, United States | Woods Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1992 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Metlakatla, Alaska, United States | Taquan Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1991 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nome, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Gulkana, Alaska, United States | Maynard, Roger L. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-12 | Nondalton, Alaska, United States | Alaska Safari, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Cessna 140 | Willow, Alaska, United States | Moore, Charles D. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | 4W Air | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18 | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | Hulbert, Ward A. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Cessna 182B | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Charlton, Albert J. | No injuries | - |