Were there any fatalities in the 25 Jun 2015 DEHAVILLAND DHC-3 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 9 fatalities.

Promech Air de Havilland DHC-3 Crash near Ketchikan, Alaska (N270PA)

Q: What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Jun 2015 involved a DEHAVILLAND DHC-3, registration N270PA, operated by Promech Air, Inc., at Ketchikan, AK.

On June 25, 2015, a DEHAVILLAND DHC-3 (registration N270PA) operated by Promech Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Ketchikan, AK. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: (1) the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain; and (2) Promech's company culture, which tacitly endorsed flying in… This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1785761257Data API Editorial standards

On June 25, 2015, a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter operated by Promech Air crashed into mountainous terrain near Ketchikan, Alaska, fatally injuring the pilot and eight passengers. The aircraft was destroyed.

Accident

On June 25, 2015, at about 1215 Alaska daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration N270PA) collided with mountainous, tree-covered terrain approximately 24 miles east-northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The aircraft was operating as a Part 135 on-demand sightseeing flight under company visual flight rules with its own flight-following. It had departed Rudyerd Bay, about 44 miles east-northeast of Ketchikan, at approximately 1207, and was en route to the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base. At the time, marginal visual flight rules conditions were reported in the area.

Aircraft

The single-engine, turbine-powered, float-equipped airplane was owned by Pantechnicon Aviation of Minden, Nevada, and operated by Promech Air, Inc., of Ketchikan. It was destroyed in the accident.

Injuries

The commercial pilot and eight passengers sustained fatal injuries.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and released its final report, designated NTSB/AAR-17/02. The full report is available on the NTSB's website.

Contributing factors

PilotOperatorDecision related to conditionDesign