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 NTSB determined the probable cause was 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, poor risk assessment, and pressure to maintain schedule, causing him to choose a shorter, riskier route at an unsafe altitude.
- Promech Air's company culture, which tacitly endorsed flying in hazardous weather and lacked adequate operational control and a formal safety program, significantly contributed to the accident.
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