No fatalities

Emergency Water Landing Near Sucia Island Ends in Total Loss (N709KA)

Sucia Island, United States of AmericaFlight

On July 23, 2026, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration N709KA) operated by Kenmore Air was involved in an aviation accident near Sucia Island, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Technical problems encountered en route forced an emergency water landing that resulted in the aircraft striking rocks and subsequently being destroyed by fire. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-07-26Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft encountered technical issues while en route from Seattle to Roche Harbor, forcing an emergency landing on water near Sucia Island. All eleven occupants evacuated safely, with one sustaining serious injuries before the plane was destroyed by fire.

What happened

While traveling from Seattle to Roche Harbor, the pilot experienced technical difficulties that necessitated an immediate response. The aircraft attempted an emergency landing in the waters adjacent to Sucia Island. Upon contacting the water surface, the airplane subsequently struck rocks, leading to a crash. All 11 occupants managed to evacuate the cabin successfully. During this process, one individual sustained serious injuries. Shortly after the initial impact and evacuation, the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed.

Findings

The incident was precipitated by technical problems encountered during the flight phase. The sequence of events resulted in a total loss of the airframe due to post-crash fire, although no fatalities were reported among the passengers and crew.

Probable cause

Technical problems encountered en route forced an emergency water landing that resulted in the aircraft striking rocks and subsequently being destroyed by fire.