THE National Transportation Safety Bureau has identified poor visibility as a contributing factor to the deaths of eight cruise pax in a floatplane crash near Ketchikan, Alaska late last month. In a preliminary report into the accident released late last week, the NTSB found the pilot was operating under visual...
THE National Transportation
Safety Bureau has identified poor
visibility as a contributing factor
to the deaths of eight cruise
pax in a floatplane crash near
Ketchikan, Alaska late last month.
In a preliminary report into
the accident released late last
week, the NTSB found the pilot
was operating under visual flight
rules during “marginal visual
meteorological conditions”.
The NTSB report determined
the accident occurred 25 Jun at
around 1215, with the Promech
Air single-engine floatplane
taking off just 15 minutes prior.
It was the third of four planes
taking off from a floating dock in
Rudyerd Bay that day, all around
five mins apart from each other.
Eight passengers, all residents of
the United States, were onboard
a shore excursion during a regular
Holland America Line cruise in
Alaska on the MS Westerdam.
A comprehensive post-accident
is pending, once the wreckage is
transported back to Ketchikan.
