Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nikabuna Lake, Alaska 99606
Thursday, August 19, 1993 15:22 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1522
Event Time Zone --
Event City NIKABUNA LAKE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99606
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1500 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1086
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N321KA
NTSB Number ANC93FA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DE HAVILLAND
Aircraft Model DHC-3
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-3
Aircraft Serial Number 415
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 11
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 9 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KETCHUM AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BOX 190588
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99519
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KETCHUM AIR SERVICE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 190588
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99519
Operator Code ELRA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LHD
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --