Second Alaska Crash, Same Plane Maker, Same Charter Company

Alaska Midair Crash Report
An actual photograph from a passenger aboard the de Havilland Beaver of the De Havilland Otter just before it struck the Beaver. All aboard the Beaver, including the passenger who had just taken the photograph were killed in the crash.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Taquan Air was involved in a midair collision last weekend in Alaska, killing six people and injuring ten, including one of its passengers.
  • Just days later, Taquan Air experienced a second fatal crash on Monday, May 20, killing a pilot and a passenger.
  • Both tragic incidents occurred in Southeast Alaska, with the second crash involving a de Havilland Beaver, the same type of plane as one involved in the initial midair collision.
See a mistake? Contact us.

After last weekend’s midair collision between a de Havilland Beaver and a Taquan Air de Havilland turbine Otter, that killed six and injured 10, employees at the longtime Alaska air charter company were still shaken. The pilot of the Taquan Air Otter survived that crash. One of the plane’s nine passengers died. 

Today Taquan Air is mourning the loss of a pilot and passenger, who perished in another crash just days after the deadly midair.

The Taquan Air plane that crashed on Monday (May 20, 2019) was a de Havilland Beaver, the same type of plane that was involved in the Saturday midair collision. That Beaver was being flown by a private commercial operator.

The crash took place on a commuter flight, not a sightseeing flight, as was the case in last weekend’s midair collision. Monday’s fatal mishap occurred in the extreme Southeast part of the state, in Metlakatla, Alaska. It had departed from Ketchikan, near the site of the midair collision on Saturday.

The names of the victims have not been released. The NTSB is investigating.

Going Direct NY Times Alaska Midair Coverage is Scary

Isabel Goyer

A commercial pilot, Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE