Beech G18 accident near Metlakatla, Alaska, March 3, 2017
On March 3, 2017 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1961 Beech G18, registered N103AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR missed approach) near Metlakatla, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An engine power loss for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 2017 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Metlakatla, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech G18 S, built 1961 · all G18s on the register
- Registration
- N103AF · no longer on the register · serial BA-526
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (IFR missed approach) defining event
- Ditching during emergency descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 10,308 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 10,102 as pilot in command; 962 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 2, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,646.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney R-985-AN-14B (piston); 1,179 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney R-985-AN-14B (piston); 764 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKW Klawock AK
- Destination: KTN Ketchikan AK
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from PANT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement (Hewitt) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement (Hasting) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph and Wreckage Location | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.