Alaska Air Tour Collision with Mountainous Terrain (N270PA)

Accident Overview and Operator Details On an on-demand sightseeing flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135, a float-equipped airplane collided with mountainous, tree-covered terrain approximately 24 miles east-northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The aircraft was owned by Pantechnicon Aviation of Minden, Nevada, and operated by Promech Air, Inc. of Ketchikan. The commercial pilot and eight passengers sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. A company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect, with the company performing its own flight-following. Marginal visual flight rules conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. The flight departed Rudyerd Bay, about 44 miles east-northeast of Ketchikan, at approximately 1207 local time and was en route to the operator's base at Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base. The accident airplane was the third of four Promech-operated float-equipped airplanes to depart from a floating dock in Rudyerd Bay at approximate five-minute intervals. The accident flight and the two preceding Promech flights were carrying cruise-ship passengers who had a 1230 “all aboard” time for their cruise ship, which was scheduled to depart at 1300. The fourth flight had no passengers and was repositioning to Ketchikan for a tour scheduled at 1230; the accident pilot also had his next tour scheduled for 1230.