Seaplane accident during cargo delivery to Otter Lake

1 fatality • Otter Lake (Chichagof Island), United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

A cargo flight delivering supplies to a remote construction site ended in an aircraft overturn and sinking on Otter Lake.

What happened

During a supply mission intended to deliver materials for a US Forest Service cabin project, a seaplane encountered a fatal accident while attempting to land on the surface of Otter Lake. The flight was operating as a cargo transport from Sitka to the lake's shore. During the landing phase, the aircraft became uncontrollable, resulting in the plane overturning and subsequently sinking into the water. The incident resulted in one fatality and two injuries among the crew members on board. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash identified that the primary reason for the loss of control was an improper level off executed by the pilot in command. Additional contributing elements noted during the investigation included a poorly planned approach to the landing site and insufficient supervision of the flight operations.

Probable cause

The accident was primarily caused by the pilot's failure to properly level off the aircraft during the landing sequence.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1964-10-02 Consolidated-Vultee 28-5ACF accident near Otter Lake (Chichagof Island), United States of America?

A cargo flight delivering supplies to a remote construction site ended in an aircraft overturn and sinking on Otter Lake.

Were there any fatalities in the 1964-10-02 Consolidated-Vultee 28-5ACF accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1964-10-02 involved a Consolidated-Vultee 28-5ACF, registration N4936V, operated by Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines, at Otter Lake (Chichagof Island), United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was primarily caused by the pilot's failure to properly level off the aircraft during the landing sequence.

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