Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nondalton, Alaska 99640
Tuesady, June 20, 1995 16:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT OF N1348 AND 3 PASSENGERS WERE NORTHWEST BOUND AT 200 FEET OVER A REMOTE RIVER. THE BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO A FISHING LODGE AFTER PICKING UP LODGE CLIENTS FROM A REMOTE LAKE. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF N7832H WAS SOUTHBOUND AT 200 FEET OVER THE SAME AREA OF THE RIVER. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDE AND DESCEND INTO THE RIVER. THE WITNESSES DID NOT OBSERVE EITHER AIRPLANE TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AS SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 3,500 FEET AND A VISIBILITY OF 25 MILES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone --
Event City NONDALTON
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99640
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID ILI
Elevation of weather observation facility 207
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 5
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1161
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N1348 N7832H
NTSB Number ANC95FA078A ANC95FA078B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Destroyed Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland PIPER
Aircraft Model DHC-2 PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-2 PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 1348 12-732
Certified Max Gross Weight 5370 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 20 1995 12:00AM Dec 20 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35 32
Airframe Hours 9499 3279
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated Unknown Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name ALASKA WILDERNESS LODGE INC. THOMAS M. BUKOWSKI
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 700 9521 PONDEROSA DR.
Aircraft Owner City SUMNER ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State WA AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98390 99516
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code LHD
Departure City KUKAKLEK LAKE ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 0 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code ILI
Destination City PORT ALSWORTH ILIAMNA
Destination State AK AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0 0
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --