Beechcraft G18 N103AF

Summary

On 3 March 2017 at about 17:15 local time, a Beechcraft G18 registered N103AF was involved in an accident near Metlakatla, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

3 March 2017 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.0917, -131.6017

Aircraft

Beechcraft G18

Registration

N103AF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1961

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Klawock → Ketchikan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC17LA017

2 people had minor injuries.

An engine power loss for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.