Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Nondalton, Alaska, May 17, 2024

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

A non-certificated pilot and his passenger departed on a personal flight. About 8.5 hours later they were reported overdue and a search began. The airplane wreckage was located partially submerged in a large lake along their route of flight. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Damage signatures on the propeller blades were consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact with the water. The airplane’s lower fuselage, belly, and main landing gear sustained significant damage consistent with a high-speed collision with the water. Witnesses reported foggy conditions when the airplane departed. A review of meteorological data revealed that the cloud ceilings were between 300 and 400 ft above ground level with precipitation below the cloud bases at the accident site. Accordingly, the non-certificated pilot continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions which likely resulted in controlled flight into the lake. Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in marijuana. The results indicate that he had used a cannabis product and may have been experiencing associated impairing psychoactive effects at the time of the crash. However, it is not possible to determine whether this affected his decision to depart into instrument conditions or whether impairment was a factor in the accident sequence itself, particularly considering that he likely did not possess the baseline skill and experience to safely conduct the flight.

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.