Reims 406 N6591L

Summary

On 17 August 2003 at about 20:56 local time, a Reims 406 registered N6591L, operated by Hageland Aviation Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Barrow, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2003 at 20:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Barrow, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

70.9825, -158.0833

Aircraft

Reims 406

Registration

N6591L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Hageland Aviation Services Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Barrow → Wainwright

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03FA096

2 people died.

An in-flight collision with ocean waters while maneuvering for an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated airline transport pilot, with one non-revenue passenger, departed in the twin-engine turboprop airplane from a rural airport on a CFR Part 135, VFR cargo flight over ocean waters. The flight did not reach its destination, and was reported overdue. Search personnel searched along the airplane's anticipated route of flight, over ocean waters. Shortly after initiation of the search, airborne search personnel reported sighting floating debris, consisting of what appeared to be aircraft seats, cardboard boxes, and small portions of aircraft wreckage, about 30.5 miles southwest of the flight's departure airport, and about 10 miles from shore. The airplane is presumed to have sunk in ocean waters estimated to be between 50 and 70 feet deep. Underwater search and recovery efforts were unsuccessful, and the airplane, pilot, and passenger remain missing. A review of archived radar data disclosed that as the accident airplane approached an area about 30.5 miles southwest of the departure airport, it descended to 500 feet msl, and then entered a right turn. As the turn progressed, the airplane continued to descend to 400 feet msl, with a radar-derived ground speed of 180 knots. The last radar return was recorded with the same radar-derived groundspeed, on an approximate heading of 200 degrees. A pilot who is familiar with geographical locations in the area reported that migrating whales are commonly sighted in the area where the radar depicted a descending right turn.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.