De Havilland DHC-3 N321KA
19 August 1993 · Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 19 August 1993 at about 23:22 local time, a De Havilland DHC-3 registered N321KA, operated by Ketchum Air Service Inc., was involved in an accident near Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:22
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 59.8504, -154.5604
- Aircraft
- De Havilland DHC-3
- Registration
- N321KA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Ketchum Air Service Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Anchorage
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC93FA152
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Probable cause
FLUID, FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE FLIGHT TIME AND FUEL UPLOAD RECORD KEEPING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ON-DEMAND FISHING/HUNTING CHARTER AIR CARRIER PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND LANDED IN A SMALL LAKE. DURING THE GROUND RUN FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY LANDING A OIL-FED FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT. INVESTIGATORS FOUND INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION, AND FUEL RECORDS OR MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR ACCIDENT ACFT OR OPERATION. PASSENGER WITNESSES REPORTED LOW FUEL GAUGES PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. FUEL PUMP EXAMINATION INDICATED FUEL STARVATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other De Havilland DHC-3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1992 | De Havilland DHC-3 | McGrath, Alaska, United States | Woods Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1994 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | Wings Airline Sevice | Fatal | 7 |
| 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 | - |
| 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 | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 1993 | Cessna A185F | Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States | James Okonek | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1993 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Atigun Pass, Alaska, United States | Yutana Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Rainbow King, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States | Garfield, Wade E. | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Sep 1993 | Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN | Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States | Franklin, Gary L. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 1993 | Cessna 180 | Cooper Landing, Alaska, United States | Sixty-Thirty North | Serious injuries | - |