The National Transportation Safety Board met April 25 to detail its investigation into the June 2015 midday crash of a turbine Otter sightseeing aircraft in mountainous terrain 25 miles east of Ketchikan, Alaska. Operated by Promech Air Inc., of Ketchikan, the accident claimed the lives of the pilot and all eight passengers.
NTSB Focuses on Pilot Error in Alaska Sightseeing Crash
Key Takeaways:
- The 2015 Ketchikan sightseeing plane crash, which killed nine, was caused by the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, leading to geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain.
- Contributing factors included the pilot's limited experience, pressure to meet schedules, and the operator's culture that tacitly endorsed flying in hazardous weather, lacked a formal safety program, and provided inadequate operational control.
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