What happened
On August 5, 2021, a DeHavilland DHC-2 MK.I, registration N1249K, crashed into mountainous terrain near Ketchikan, Alaska. The aircraft was operating as a Part 1/35 on-demand sightseeing flight for Southeast Aviation, LLC. The flight involved the pilot and five passengers, all of whom were 6 fatal.
The pilot had completed an earlier flight that morning and had reviewed weather via various digital sources, concluding conditions were acceptable. However, during the first flight, passengers noted the cloud ceiling was dropping and the pilot was maneuvering to avoid clouds. Before departing on the second flight, the pilot advised the company owner that he should cancel a different scheduled trip to Hyder, Alaska, due to poor ceilings, yet he proceeded with the Misty Fjords flight.
Satellite tracking data showed the aircraft landed on Big Goat Lake at approximately 10:18 and departed the lake at 10:27 to return to Ketchikan. During the return leg, the aircraft flew through areas of reduced visibility. The final tracking transmission occurred at 10:48 at an altitude of 1,730 feet mean sea level. At 10:50, an emergency locator transmitter signal was received. The wreckage was located the following morning in a heavily wooded area; there were no survivors.
The investigation
Mechanical examination of the wreckage showed no evidence of pre-impact malfunctions. The propeller was rotating and under power at the time of impact. The distribution of the debris suggested the aircraft struck a tree in a left-wing-low attitude, likely while the pilot was attempting to maneuver away from the terrain.
Weather analysis revealed a conditionally unstable environment with rain showers and mountain obscuration. FAA weather cameras and passenger photographs confirmed that the flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), characterized by low clouds, mist, and reduced visibility.
The investigation also found that the pilot's training records indicated he had been signed off for cue-based training that had not actually occurred. Additionally, the aircraft was operating with an expired FAA registration certificate.