Fatal floatplane accident near Wenatchee

1 fatality • Wenatchee, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

A passenger drowned following a water landing on a fast-moving river near Wenatchee when the aircraft partially submerged.

What happened

A float-equipped aircraft was involved in an accident during its arrival at a swift-moving river located in the vicinity of Wenatchee. While attempting to land on the water, the plane struck the surface and subsequently began to sink partially into the river. During the incident, the crew members were affected differently: the pilot was successfully rescued from the scene, but the passenger sustained a fatal injury due to drowning.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the execution of the landing and flight planning. The official analysis determined that the pilot failed to maintain an appropriate level-off during the approach to the river. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted deficiencies in preflight preparations. It was also noted that the flight was dispatched into a region lacking necessary docking infrastructure, which contributed to the circumstances of the crash.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from improper leveling during the water landing, compounded by insufficient preflight planning and dispatching the aircraft to an area without docking facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1969-07-23 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident near Wenatchee, United States of America?

A passenger drowned following a water landing on a fast-moving river near Wenatchee when the aircraft partially submerged.

Were there any fatalities in the 1969-07-23 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1969-07-23 involved a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, registration CF-MGS, operated by Airwest Airlines, at Wenatchee, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident resulted from improper leveling during the water landing, compounded by insufficient preflight planning and dispatching the aircraft to an area without docking facilities.

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