# NTSB SEA91FA216: Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander, N68HA, Ketchikan, AK, August 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1991, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Coordinates: 55.679771, -132.189224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6798&lon=-132.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41335
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91FA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41335/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA216

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE VFR IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.  FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE UPSLOPING TERRAIN IN THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PATH AS WELL AS WEATHER CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN OBSCURATION OF THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - rain
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF AN HOUR AFTER DEPARTING FOR WRANGELL, ALASKA, THE PILOT OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT CONTACTED COMPANY DISPATCH APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES FROM KETCHIKAN, AND REPORTED THAT HE WAS RETURNING DUE TO WEATHER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT COMMUNICATED WITH ANOTHER COMPANY PILOT FLYING IN THE SAME VICINITY AND BOTH PILOTS DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AT THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS AS 'MARGINAL'. WEATHER CONDITINS AT THE KETCHIKAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (18 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE CRASH SITE) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CHARACTERIZED BY LOW CEILINGS, MULTIPLE CLOUD LAYERS AND REDUCED (3 MILE) VISIBILITIES WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES/RISING TERRAIN AT 800 FEET MSL WHILE IN A NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT PATH HEADED EAST SOUTHEAST. RIGHT WINGTIP IMPACT SIGNATURES INDICATED A VERY SHALLOW RIGHT WING DOWN/NOSE UP ATTITUDE AT THE INITIAL TREE IMPACTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68HA-1992-01-06), registration cancelled 1992-01-06, S/N 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2A-26 ISLANDER (BN-2A-26 I)
- Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN2A-26 ISLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn2a-26-islander) (registry code 1520226) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2009
- Airframe hours: 16395
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4C5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Temsco Helicopters, Inc., doing business as Temsco Airlines
- Registered owner: Temsco Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 1991, 34 hours before
- Departed: KTN, KETCHIKAN, AK
- Destination: WRG, WRANGELL, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KTN, Ketchikan Intnl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,107 total, 740 in this make and model, 4,876 as pilot in command, 285 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTN, 18 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910820035119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910820035119A), Aug 20, 1991: Bnorm BN2A26, Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Encountered low ceiling rain and fog. Turned back but struck trees on rising terrain. Burned after impact.

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.

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