Republic RC-3 SEABEE accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, May 25, 1996
On May 25, 1996 at about 2:00 am local time, a Republic RC-3 SEABEE, registered N99FJ, was destroyed in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the airplane crashed for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1996 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Ketchikan, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 SEABEE RC-3 SEABE · all RC-3 SEABEEs on the register
- Registration
- N99FJ · no longer on the register · serial 704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tail of the airplane sank while it was parked on the beach at Eagle Lake. The pilot obtained help, and the airplane was refloated on May 24, 1996. The people who helped refloat the airplane stated the surface of Eagle Lake was 'glassy water.' The pilot indicated that he would depart the Lake immediately after the help had departed; however, the airplane did not arrive at the destination. Subsequently, evidence was found that the airplane had crashed and had sank in the lake. A sponson was found floating on the lake. Damage on the sponson showed that it had torn away from the airplane's wing, consistent with a rearward force. Also, a video tape showed airplane wreckage scattered over the bottom of the lake. According to the accident pilot's son, the airplane had a history of leaking in the tail. He stated that his father, the accident pilot, was going to purchase a new bilge pump upon arriving at Ketchikan.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 191 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,980 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KTN AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N99FJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.