# Accident 20230520011569A: Viking Air Limited DHC-6-400, In The Ocean La, CA, May 20, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2023, 13:54 local time
- Place: In The Ocean La, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 681J
- Location: 37.5992° N, 123.1469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5992&lon=-123.1469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N153QS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153QS-2026-03-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Viking Air DHC-6-400 (registry code 9502640, https://openairdocs.org/model/viking-air-dhc-6-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 series (registry code 52250, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VIKING AIR LIMITED DHC-6-400
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-34
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA192) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230520011569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOTS REPORTED TO ATC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO UNABLE TO TRANSFER FUEL TO THE MAIN TANKS.  ENGINES FAILED TO OPERATE AND AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE OCEAN.  RESULT WAS AIRCRAFT DAMAGED AND TWO PILOT FATALITIES.  NO PASSENGERS ONBOARD. MOSTLY SUBMERGED IN THE WATER.  ONLY ONE LANDING GEAR AND ONE ENGINE NACELLE VISIBLE.  PROPELLER MISSING FROM ENGINE NACELLE THAT WAS VISIBLE ABOVE THE WATER LINE. COAST GUARD WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE PILOTS DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY SCUBA GEAR, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE BOTH PILOTS STILL IN THEIR SEATS.  AIRCRAFT INSURANCE COMPANY HAS HIRED A SHIP TO TRY AND LOCATE THE AIRCRAFT.  NO RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2023.  A FUEL TANK BLADDER WASHED UP ON A NEARBY BEACH, BUT NOT VERIFIED YET IF FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRCAFT. NTSB REP SAID HE PLANS ON LOOKING AT THE FUEL BLADDER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA192), May 20, 2023: Viking Air DHC-6-400 (N153QS), Half Moon Bay, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the ferry fuel tank system to transfer fuel during a trans-Pacific flight for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent ditching into the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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