What happened
On 09 May 1996, a float-equipped DHC-3 Otter departed Ketchikan, Alaska, as part of a VFR ferry flight destined for Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. The flight included a pilot and a co-pilot. After a scheduled refueling and weather briefing in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the aircraft proceeded eastbound following the Telklam Pass VFR route.
During the flight, the pilot communicated with the Terrace Flight Service Station (FSS), reporting a position 15 miles east of Terrace and noting the presence of light snow showers. No further radio contact was established. The following day, search and rescue teams located the wreckage approximately 30 miles east of Terrace. The aircraft had struck mountainous terrain and was destroyed. The crash resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the operational aspects of the flight, as the destruction of the aircraft and the loss of all technical records prevented a full technical analysis of the wreckage. Investigators noted that the aircraft had recently undergone a complete rebuild and had completed a test flight prior to the ferry mission.
While the pilot and co-pilot were experienced on the DHC-3 Otter, neither had significant experience operating in mountainous terrain. During the weather briefing in Prince Rupert, the FSS specialist recommended the Skeena River route to allow for lower altitudes in case of bad weather, but the pilot chose the Telkwa Pass route because it was shorter.
Aerial reconnaissance identified the engine snagged on a rock outcropping at 7,000 feet, while other components and the occupants were found further down a slope at approximately 4,000 feet. The site was subject to recent avalanche activity, which made a ground examination of the wreckage impossible due to extreme hazards.
Findings
- The aircraft weight and center of gravity were estimated to be within prescribed limits.
- The fuel used at the Prince Rupert stop showed no evidence of contamination.
- Reduced visibility due to weather may have prevented the pilot from maintaining visual contact with the terrain.
- The high speed of impact suggested either a loss of control or controlled flight into unseen terrain.