Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
Sunday, August 17, 2003 14:32 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger departed in a single-engine, wheel-equipped airplane for a flight over extensive areas of ocean waters, en route to a remote coastal community. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the point of departure, and a VFR flight plan was filed by the pilot. Marginal VFR meteorological conditions prevailed along the pilot's intended flight path. The accident airplane did not reach the intended destination, and was not located at any en route airport. Search personnel from Canada and the United States conducted an extensive search effort that included aircraft, surface vessels, and ground search personnel. The search was suspended on August 27, 2003. The airplane, pilot, and passenger remain missing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Undetermined. .

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1432
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Ketchikan
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99901
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
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 --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15964
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 8:26AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions --
FAA District Office Juneau FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6520Q
NTSB Number ANC03FAMS1
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Alon
Aircraft Model A-2 (Aircoupe)
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number A-120
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert E. Straight
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 6313
Aircraft Owner City Ketchikan
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99901
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CYZT
Departure City Port Hardy
Departure State --
Departure Country CA
Departure Time 1232
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KTN
Destination City Ketchikan
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2004 1:44PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --