Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crash, Nov 29, 2013 (4 killed)
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan accident on November 29, 2013 near Saint Mary's, Alaska, United States with 4 fatalities. Cause: The pilot began a VFR...
- Date: November 29, 2013
- Aircraft: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
- Location: Saint Mary's, Alaska, United States
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot began a VFR approach into instrument conditions at night and lost situational awareness, leading to controlled flight into terrain. The flight coordinators released the flight without discussing the risks, and the operator and FAA oversight had shortcomings.
An ERA Alaska Caravan on a night scheduled commuter flight from Bethel diverted to Saint Mary's when weather deteriorated. The pilot's radio was set to the wrong frequency, so the airport lights did not come on, and the aircraft flew into fog and ice. It hit terrain on a ridge about a mile from the airport. Four of the ten aboard were killed and six survived with serious injuries.