Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nimpo Lake, Bc Canada
Wednesday, June 18, 2003 18:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On June 18, 2003, approximately 1830 Pacific daylight time, A Piper PA-12 floatplane, N3351M, registered to and operated by 51 Mike LLC, and being flown by an airline transport pilot accompanied by a private pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain following a loss of control while turning base to final at the Nimpo Lake Seaplane Base (AT3), Nimpo Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries and a post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, had departed AT3 approximately 1030 on the morning of the accident with intermediate stops planned at various remote fish camps. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft turning base to final when the aircraft rolled and pitched nose down descending in a steep diagonal flight path through the trees to ground impact. Winds reported at Anahim Lake approximately 15 nautical miles north of the accident site for 1800 and 1900 were from 260 degrees at 13 and 15 knots, and the temperature was reported as 13.5 and 12.2 degrees Centigrade respectively. Witnesses reported gusty wind conditions at the accident site. This report is for informational purposes only. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre 4th Floor Hull, Quebec K1A 1K8

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Nimpo Lake, BC
Event State --
Event Country CANADA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 524000N
Event Location Longitude 1250900W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID YPU
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source OPERATOR
NTSB Notification Date Jun 24 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 925
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 3:36PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3351M
NTSB Number SEA03WA114
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address 919 SW Taylor Street, Suite 300
Operator City Portland
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97205
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AT3
Departure City Nimpo Lake, BC
Departure State --
Departure Country CA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AT3
Destination City Nimpo Lake, BC
Destination State --
Destination Country CA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 3:37PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --