Amateur-built DHC-2 and amateur-built DHC-3 mid-air collision near Ketchikan, Alaska, May 13, 2019
On May 13, 2019 at about 8:21 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built DHC-2 (N952DB) and amateur-built DHC-3 (N959PA), were involved in a mid-air collision near Ketchikan, Alaska. 6 people were killed, 9 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which prevented the two pilots from seeing the other airplane before the collision, and the absence of visual and aural alerts from both airplanes’ traffic display systems, while operating in a geographic area with a high concentration of air tour activity. Contributing to the accident were (1) the Federal Aviation Administration’s provision of new transceivers that lacked alerting capability to Capstone Program operators without adequately mitigating the increased risk associated with the consequent loss of the previously available alerting capability and (2) the absence of a requirement for airborne traffic advisory systems with aural alerting among operators who carry passengers for hire.
The inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which prevented the two pilots from seeing the other airplane before the collision, and the absence of visual and aural alerts from both airplanes’ traffic display systems, while operating in a geographic area with a high concentration of air tour activity. Contributing to the accident were (1) the Federal Aviation Administration’s provision of new transceivers that lacked alerting capability to Capstone Program operators without adequately mitigating the increased risk associated with the consequent loss of the previously available alerting capability and (2) the absence of a requirement for airborne traffic advisory systems with aural alerting among operators who carry passengers for hire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2019 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Ketchikan, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed, 9 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built DHC-2, built 1952
- Registration
- N952DB · no longer on the register · serial 237
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built DHC-3, built 1956
- Registration
- N959PA · no longer on the register · serial 159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built DHC-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 13, 2019, about 1221 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC 2 (Beaver) airplane, N952DB, and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter) airplane, N959PA, collided in midair about 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The DHC-2 pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-3 pilot sustained minor injuries, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-2 was destroyed, and the DHC-3 sustained substantial damage. The DHC-2 was registered to and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. The DHC-3 was registered to Pantechnicon Aviation LTD, Minden, Nevada, and operated by Venture Travel, LLC, dba Taquan Air, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built DHC-3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 13, 2019, about 1221 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC 2 (Beaver) airplane, N952DB, and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter) airplane, N959PA, collided in midair about 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The DHC-2 pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-3 pilot sustained minor injuries, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The DHC-2 was destroyed, and the DHC-3 sustained substantial damage. The DHC-2 was registered to and operated by Mountain Air Service LLC, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. The DHC-3 was registered to Pantechnicon Aviation LTD, Minden, Nevada, and operated by Venture Travel, LLC, dba Taquan Air, Ketchikan, Alaska, under the provisions of Part 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident.
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 for the amateur-built DHC-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot of other aircraft
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Central warning › Not specified
- Organizational issues › Development › Selection/certification/testing › Equip certification/testing › FAA/Regulator
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › (general) › Design
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › FAA/Regulator
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › Equipment/operational › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 2, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,452 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mountain Air Service LLC
The flight
- Destination: 5KE Ketchikan AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PAKT, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the amateur-built DHC-3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot of other aircraft
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Central warning › Not specified
- Organizational issues › Development › Selection/certification/testing › Equip certification/testing › FAA/Regulator
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › (general) › Design
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › FAA/Regulator
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › Equipment/operational › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Operator
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Safety programs › (general) › FAA/Regulator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: April 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30,296.7 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 30, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 (turboprop); 7,105 hours total
- Operator: Venture Travel, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Rudyerd Bay AK at 8:03 pm
- Destination: 5KE Ketchikan AK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.