What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
6/9/18 Aircraft departed the Sitka, AK floatplane base for a 30 minute part 91 flight. Reported overdue by family.
6/11/18 USCG located N1203A wreckage at 5710.3/13516.6 (8 nne sit) in the katlian river at. At least 1 POB (possibly 2 bob), aircraft was in a nose down tail up position in 6-8 ft of water.
6/12/18 On-seen investigation indicated that the aircraft stalled and both individuals had died on impact, no indication of shoulder harness use. Passenger seat belt buckle failed ejecting the passenger from the aircraft. Aircraft was equipped with an older 121.9 ELT, which never activated.
In talking with the NTSB investigator, we both think the crash may have been survivable if both POB were wearing shoulder harnesses and helmets. Pass studies have shown up to a 50% survival rate when wearing shoulder harnesses combined with helmet use. A new 406 ELT possibly would of help locate the crash earlier.
11/15/2019 Note aircraft ownership was not transfered from previous owner even though the aircraft was purchased over a year prior to the accident, aircraft was not insured.
2/26/2019 Final medical case review completed with no additional findings.
As the FAA filed it
6/9/18 AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SITKA, AK FLOATPLANE BASE FOR A 30 MINUTE PART 91 FLIGHT. REPORTED OVERDUE BY FAMILY.
6/11/18 USCG LOCATED N1203A WRECKAGE AT 5710.3/13516.6 (8 NNE SIT) IN THE KATLIAN RIVER AT. AT LEAST 1 POB (POSSIBLY 2 BOB), AIRCRAFT WAS IN A NOSE DOWN TAIL UP POSITION IN 6-8 FT OF WATER.
6/12/18 ON-SEEN INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND BOTH INDIVIDUALS HAD DIED ON IMPACT, NO INDICATION OF SHOULDER HARNESS USE. PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED EJECTING THE PASSENGER FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN OLDER 121.9 ELT, WHICH NEVER ACTIVATED.
IN TALKING WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR, WE BOTH THINK THE CRASH MAY HAVE BEEN SURVIVABLE IF BOTH POB WERE WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES AND HELMETS. PASS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN UP TO A 50% SURVIVAL RATE WHEN WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES COMBINED WITH HELMET USE. A NEW 406 ELT POSSIBLY WOULD OF HELP LOCATE THE CRASH EARLIER.
11/15/2019 NOTE AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP WAS NOT TRANSFERED FROM PREVIOUS OWNER EVEN THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED OVER A YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INSURED.
2/26/2019 FINAL MEDICAL CASE REVIEW COMPLETED WITH NO ADDITIONAL FINDINGS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.