What happened
On the day of the accident, a float-equipped aircraft departed from Rudyerd Bay, Alaska, en route to Ketchel Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base. The flight was part of a series of scheduled sightseeing tours for cruise ship passengers. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand excursion. During the return leg of the trip, the pilot elected to use the "short route," which travels primarily over land, rather than the "long route" over seawater.
As the flight progressed, weather conditions deteriorated, with visibility restricted by rain, mist, and overcast clouds. While the pilot had climbed to an altitude that would have provided sufficient clearance had the standard path been followed, the aircraft deviated from the intended route by turning west prematurely. This deviation led the plane into a 1,900-foot mountain, striking the terrain at approximately 1,600 feet mean sea level. In the final moments before impact, the aircraft performed a rapid pitch-up maneuver, likely an attempt to avoid the obstacle. The impact resulted in 9 fatalities, including the pilot and eight passengers, and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors. The pilot's decision-making was heavily influenced by schedule pressure to meet the cruise ship's departure deadline and an attempt to follow the lead of more experienced pilots. Additionally, the pilot lacked sufficient experience in conducting air tours in the Southeast Alaska region.
Organizational factors also played a role, as the company's culture appeared to tacitly permit flying in weather conditions that were marginal or below FAA minimums. Furthermore, there was a lack of formal oversight regarding the specific flight, as the pilot and flight scheduler had not explicitly agreed on the safety of the mission before departure. The early westward turn from the established flight path was the primary factor that placed the aircraft on a collision course with the terrain.