De Havilland DHC-3 N93356

Summary

On 31 July 2006 at about 19:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-3 registered N93356, operated by Ward Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 7 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2006 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.7911, -134.9825

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-3

Registration

N93356

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ward Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Juneau → Berners Bay

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06LA103

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting the surface of the water. Factors associated with the accident were the flat-light and glassy water conditions, which affected the pilot's ability to see the surface of the water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was transporting passengers in a float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when it collided with the surface of the water during landing. The pilot reported that he was in a descending right turn in preparation for landing, and was looking for shoreline dock as a landing reference. Prior to seeing the dock, the airplane struck the water. The left rear seat passenger said he wasn't aware the airplane was landing, and thought they were still making the approach when the airplane impacted the water. A witness who watched the accident from the ground, said there was fog and low clouds in the area, and that surface visibility was about 1 mile. The witness said as the airplane descended, he thought, " If he doesn't pull up, he's going to hit the water." The witness said the right float and wing hit the water in a right turn, and that he never heard the airplane reduce power, or saw the airplane level off before impact. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and said in his written statement to the NTSB that glassy water, and flat-light conditions made it difficult to discern the surface of the water. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.