History of the Flight
On August 21, 2010, at approximately 1412 Alaska daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-2 airplane (N9313Z) sustained substantial damage when it impacted ocean water near Katmai National Park, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by Branch River Air Service under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight. Instrument and visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area. The flight originated from Swikshak River Lagoon at about 1352, with an intended destination of King Salmon via an intermediate stop at Lake Brooks. The commercial pilot and three passengers remain missing and are presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. Only fragmented portions of the airplane have been found washed ashore.
Sequence of Events
The DHC-2 was part of a flight of two airplanes transporting National Park Service employees. When the airplane did not arrive, the operator reported it overdue. Search operations by the USAF Rescue Coordination Center, US Coast Guard, and NPS began on August 22 and continued through September 5, 2010, covering over 60,000 air miles with no evidence of the aircraft. The ALNOT was canceled on September 13, 2010. On September 27, 2010, debris was spotted about 28 miles northeast of the departure point, and the next day a helicopter confirmed it belonged to the missing DHC-2.
A pilot of the second company airplane, a Cessna 206, reported that he departed with the DHC-2 and remained about one mile in trail. Near Big River, the DHC-2 pilot reported that he "found a hole" and descended through it. The Cessna pilot later saw the DHC-2 departing Swikshak Lagoon. Passengers on the Cessna reported deteriorating weather with low fog and rain. One passenger said the DHC-2 pilot mentioned finding a "sucker hole" to reach the camp.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The 47-year-old commercial pilot held single-engine sea and instrument ratings, with 4,112 flight hours. He completed company training for the DHC-2 in May and June 2010. The aircraft, a 1952 high-wing floatplane with a Pratt and Whitney R-985 engine, was equipped with basic VFR instruments and a 121 MHz ELT. The pilot carried a SPOT personal locator beacon. No signals from either device were received.
Wreckage and Impact
Debris was found along the high tide line about 2.4 miles southwest of Shaw Island, consisting of fragmented sections of the aft fuselage, tail surfaces, and parts of the instrument panel. The majority of the fuselage, wings, engine, and floats were not located. A side scan sonar search in October 2010 found no additional wreckage.
Medical and Pathological Information
No autopsy or toxicology tests were performed.
Survival Aspects
The ELT and SPOT beacon did not transmit. An electronic search on August 22 detected an unknown signal near Mount Douglas, but it was not confirmed as the aircraft.
Tests and Research
A thermally damaged tent and duffel bag consistent with items aboard the accident airplane were found on a nearby beach. Examination showed localized melting without soot, suggesting a brief thermal event.