ANC94FA070

Five aircraft departed a lodge, one behind the other. Fog and drizzle were encountered, and the pilot of the first aircraft radioed to the pilots of the other aircraft to cross the river to the east shoreline. A passenger in the fourth aircraft (N13GA) stated that when the aircraft was over the middle of the river, she could not see either shore due to fog. The pilot of N13GA (a floatplane) stated that he encountered deteriorating weather & started a descent, intending to make a precautionary landing. He began to level, expecting conditions to improve. Subsequently, the floatplane hit the surface of 'glassy water' and crashed.

History of flight

On June 22, 1994, at 2015 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Dehavilland, DHC-3 Otter, N13GA, registered to and operated by Wings of Alaska, of Juneau, Alaska, crashed into the Taku Inlet, 12 miles east of Juneau. The Air Taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, last departed the Taku Lodge located on the Taku river, and the destination was the Juneau downtown dock. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a company flight plan was in effect. The airplane received substantial damage. The Commercial Certificated Pilot and three passengers received serious injuries, six passengers received fatal injuries, and one passenger is missing and presumed fatal.

According to the Company, cruise ships contract with them to provide shore cruise excursions to the passengers who so desire a trip. The cruise ships dock at the Juneau downtown dock and the airplanes board and discharge the passengers at that location. The on board shore cruise director has the option of selling a passenger a ticket on behalf of the airline charter company or providing the passengers with information. The airline charter company, Wings of Alaska, also sells tickets at the downtown dock. The passengers for this flight had purchased tickets from the cruise ship's shore cruise director. This trip was to go from Juneau downtown to the Taku Lodge where the passengers could either eat dinner or walk around the area. After approximately 1 hour on the ground they would board the airplanes for the return flight. The company stated that they had flights scheduled every two hours starting at 0800 and they would use up to 5 airplanes to transport the passengers depending on the passenger count. This trip required 5 single engine Otter airplanes.

According to the pilot, the first trip, scheduled for 0800, was cancelled due to weather. His first trip began at 1000 and he completed a trip approximately every two hours. He stated that they dropped off the first passengers and would return for a second load while the first set of passengers were still at the lodge. Upon returning, the previous flight's passengers would reboard for their return to the cruise ship. He returned to the Taku lodge at 1900 hours. This flight was empty because it was the last flight for the day.

After the passengers were loaded, the airplanes departed one at a time. N13GA was number 4 in the departure sequence. The pilot of N13GA described their route of flight as a take off down river with a straight out climb to 1000 feet above mean sea level. The flight would then cross the face of the Taku Glacier located on the northwest shore of the Taku River. He stated he would fly down the western shore line because he was more familiar with that terrain. The river makes two "S" turns between the Taku Lodge and the mouth of the river.

According to Mike Olsen, a line pilot for Wings of Alaska, he was the first one to depart the Taku Lodge. He stated that at Flat Point he reported by radio to the other four airplanes that "we needed to go from Flat Point to the vicinity between Turner Lake and Jaw Point, and that we may need to land due to the low ceilings." Mr. Olsen relates the following: "At that time, I was at 500 ft., and descending between Flat Point, Turner Lake and Jaw Point. I could pick up the shoreline across the bay. At this time I was at 100 ft., and could pick up Jaw Point and Cooper Ridge. So, I aborted the landing, and started climbing for Jaw Point and Cooper Ridge."

The pilot of N13GA, the accident airplane, stated that the weather along the western shoreline of Taku Inlet was deteriorating and the first three aircraft, which departed ahead of him, transitioned across to the east side. He elected to transition also and en route he lost site of the shoreline. He made a turn to proceed up river and began a descent. He last recalled seeing the altimeter at 200 feet indicated and just as the "Turner Lake" shoreline came into view the airplane struck the water.

Witnesses

There were no witnesses to the accident. However, Mr. Dick Emberton, employee for Alaska Electric Light and Power Company, was stationed at the Annex Creek power plant, which is located near Scow Cove. He stated he heard the engine of an airplane and then a noise that sounded "just like an airplane crash you would hear on one of those airplane documentaries." After the described crash noise he realized that he could no longer hear the engine noise. Mr. Emberton stated that the weather was very poor and had been so for a long time. He stated that the time was 2015 because he had just looked at his watch before he laid down.

Injuries to persons

The pilot and three passengers received serious injuries as a result of hypothermia. Seven of the passengers received fatal injuries. According to the pilot, no one was injured in the crash. One passenger is still missing and presumed fatal. This passenger was 5 years old. According to his mother, he had exited the airplane and held onto a door with his sister and mother. He did not have a life vest. His mother stated that he went to sleep.

Damage to aircraft

The airplane sank in the Taku River Inlet and was substantially damaged as a result of the impact with the water.

Personnel information

The 51 year old pilot is the holder of a Commercial Pilot Certificate, number 1464672, with airplane single engine land and sea, and multi engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He also holds a Flight Instructor Certificate for airplane single engine. He was issued a Federal Aviation Administration, Class 2 Medical Certificate with no limitations, on November 5, 1993.

According to the Company Pilot records, he received the equivalency of a Biennial Flight Review on April 21, 1994. This flight was a 14 CFR Part 135 checkride and was accomplished in a Cessna 206 airplane on amphibious floats.

According to the Company, the pilot had been the Chief Pilot at one time but left to take another job. He later returned to work for this company. At the time of this accident, he was one of the company's Check Airman for the DHC-3 airplane.

The company stated that the pilot was salaried and paid by the hour for duty time. The pilots also receive "attitude" pay once per month and "Safety and Completion" pay which is paid at the end of a safe flying season.

Aircraft information

The company's maintenance records show that the airplane had a total time of 7672.4 hours. It received a 100 hour inspection on June 5, 1994 and had operated 64.3 hours since that inspection. The engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-1340, capable of producing 600 horsepower, serial number 42-10198, had a total time of 6761.0 hours and had 717.8 hours since overhaul.

According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the airplane had 50 gallons of 100 octane low lead fuel on board at the last takeoff.

The amount of fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident could not be verified.

According to a surviving passenger, there was no change in the engine sound until they struck the water.

The pilot stated that the altimeter was set to zero while at the Juneau downtown dock. Once at the lodge it should have read 80 feet indicated. He stated that he did not see anything abnormal with the altimeter and he did not reset the altimeter at the lodge. The altimeter did read 80 feet while at the lodge.

Meteorological information

There are no weather reporting facilities in the Taku River Inlet area or at the Taku Lodge. The nearest weather reporting facility is located in Juneau, Alaska, 12 miles west of the accident site. The accident site is not visible from Juneau. There is a mountain between the sites.

According to the National Weather Service, the Juneau weather at 2000 hours was 800 sca