DHC-3 Otter down in Alaska-Former US Senator aboard

[Al_Fallujah]

A DHC-3 Otter went down overnigh in Alaska.

Aboard were former US Senator Ted Steven and son.
Also aboard were former NASA director O'Keefe and son.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... ends-say/1

Confirmed 5 (of 9) dead.

Radio reports at this moment indicate that it was not the regular pilot, but a last minute substitute. They took off with poor visibility, and impacted the side of a mountain.

The Senator's death is being reported, but as unconfirmed at this point.

[B-Valvs]

The Senator is now confirmed among the dead. 

8-)

[Fozzer]

More...>>>

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/1310a ... crash.html

http://www.adn.com/2010/08/10/1403280/f ... sh-of.html

Paul.

[Al_Fallujah]

From your second link:

"Fergus said the plane was flying by visual flight rules and was not required to file a flight plan."

and:


"There's less than a quarter-mile visibility and less than 100 feet of ceiling ... between the clouds and the ground."
-According to an ANG spokeswoman.


The National Weather Service reported rain and fog, with low clouds and limited visibility early Tuesday. Conditions ranged from visibility of about 10 miles reported at Dillingham shortly before 7 p.m. Monday to 3 miles, with rain and fog later.


NWS at Dillingham had the weather a little better there.
Hard to say, but they may have taken off in minimal VFR, and encountered the thicker stuff enroute.

[Fozzer]

Quote from Today's Pilot Magazine. Nov 2002.

".....the biggest single cause of Aircraft accidents, world wide, is Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
Nearly all these accidents happen to Aircraft flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), and usually take the form of the pilot flying unwittingly into high ground.
Typically, the Crew loses terrain awareness, for one reason or another, and concentrates on some distraction within the Cockpit instead of giving priority to the approaching higher ground."

Moral: Sim V Pilots. When you fire up that beautiful "REX" cloud formation in the Flight Sim, remember, it may kill you, and your passengers!
"Altitude", is your safety escape route.

Paul..."Weather" always causes me great concern!....even in the Sim!..... .... 8-)...!

[Al_Fallujah]

Update:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/201 ... rash_N.htm

[drbob777]

Quote from Today's Pilot Magazine. Nov 2002.

".....the biggest single cause of Aircraft accidents, world wide, is Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
Nearly all these accidents happen to Aircraft flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), and usually take the form of the pilot flying unwittingly into high ground.
Typically, the Crew loses terrain awareness, for one reason or another, and concentrates on some distraction within the Cockpit instead of giving priority to the approaching higher ground."

Moral: Sim V Pilots. When you fire up that beautiful "REX" cloud formation in the Flight Sim, remember, it may kill you, and your passengers!
"Altitude", is your safety escape route.

Paul..."Weather" always causes me great concern!....even in the Sim!..... .... 8-)...!

I get to worry about that wen I start doing cross country flights here in Colorado.

In Alaska the weather is alot more unpredicatble

[olderndirt]

The NTSB has interviewed another guide/pilot who was flying in the area at the time and he stated the ceiling and visiblity were not a problem so it's leaning more to mechanical or structural than before.

[Al_Fallujah]

The NTSB has interviewed another guide/pilot who was flying in the area at the time and he stated the ceiling and visiblity were not a problem so it's leaning more to mechanical or structural than before.

I saw a vid from the NTSB person. She said that according to interviews with one survivor, the plane was fine. No change in pitch or engine noise adding, "We just stopped flying".
Can be watched here, plays a commercial first:
http://www.usatoday.com/video/index.htm ... 4485662001