- Date
- August 12, 1987, 13:21 local (21:21 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 19, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19870812044052A19870812044051A
- Case key
- 40531
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
N58318 (Hughes 369, under contract with us geological survey) was inbnd fm se to lnd at Ketchikan-temsco heliport (6Z4) as N73WS (Cessna 185 amphibian) was depg se fm Ketchikan intl arpt (ktn). Ktn & 6Z4 were located in tongass narrows withmtns NE & sw. Rprtd wx was: 500' sct, 1100' bkn, 2200' ovc, vis 5 mi with lgt rain & fog, cig ragged. For a VFR apch to 6Z4 (aprx 1-1/2 mi north of ktn arpt), N58318 had to go up the narrows & ovr or nr ktn. Ktn had no ctl twr, but sub- part m of FAR 93 reqd 2-WAY rdo comm with ktn fss, while operg blo 3000' & w/i 3 mi of ktn. At 1318:58, N58318 rprtd at gravina pt (aprx 4 mi se of ktn) & the fss provided traffic adzy. At 1319:19, N73WS rprtd intentions to depart from ktn & was given a traffic adzy, including info concerning N58318. N73WS depd ktn, using parallel twy next to rwy 11, iaw ltrof agreement. Nrly 1 mi se of ktn, the two collided as N58318 was flying near the extdd cntrln of rwy 11. N58318 crashedin wtr; N73WS returned & crash lndd at ktn. Five acft in vcnty of ktn; FAA data indcd hvy traffic at ktn fm may to sep.
N58318 (Hughes 369, under contract with us geological survey) was inbnd fm se to lnd at Ketchikan-temsco heliport (6Z4) as N73WS (Cessna 185 amphibian) was depg se fm Ketchikan intl arpt (ktn). Ktn & 6Z4 were located in tongass narrows withmtns NE & sw. Rprtd wx was: 500' sct, 1100' bkn, 2200' ovc, vis 5 mi with lgt rain & fog, cig ragged. For a VFR apch to 6Z4 (aprx 1-1/2 mi north of ktn arpt), N58318 had to go up the narrows & ovr or nr ktn. Ktn had no ctl twr, but sub- part m of FAR 93 reqd 2-WAY rdo comm with ktn fss, while operg blo 3000' & w/i 3 mi of ktn. At 1318:58, N58318 rprtd at gravina pt (aprx 4 mi se of ktn) & the fss provided traffic adzr. At 1319:19, N73WS rprtd intentions to depart from ktn & was given a traffic adzy, including info concerning N58318. N73WS depd ktn, using parallel twy next to rwy 11, iaw ltrof agreement. Nrly 1 mi se of ktn, the two collided as N58318 was flying near the extdd cntrln of rwy 11. N58318 crashedin wtr; N73WS returned & crash lndd at ktn. Five acft in vcnty of ktn; FAA data indcd hvy traffic at ktn fm may to sep.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N58318
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 590499D
- Airframe hours
- 3,910
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Temsco Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Temsco Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 29, 1987 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- Annette Island, AK
- Destination
- Ketchikan, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- KTN · Ketchikan Intl
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N73WS
- Reported as
- Cessna 185E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18501645
- Airframe hours
- 7,111
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Ketchikan Air Service
- Registered owner
- Ketchikan Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 27, 1987 · 68 hours before
- Destination
- Humpback Lake, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- KTN · Ketchikan Intl
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N58318
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,800 total · 4,700 in this make and model · 6,800 as pilot in command · 145 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N73WS
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 20,239 total · 12,203 in this make and model · 19,689 as pilot in command · 88 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KTN, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.