Mon, Jan 15, 2024
Crew Contacted ATC And Reported That They Were Having A Problem Transferring Fuel From The Ferry Tanks
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA Accident Number: WPR23LA192
Date & Time: May 20, 2023, 14:00 Local Registration: N153QS
Aircraft: Viking Air Limited DHC-6-400 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Ferry
On May 20, 2023, at about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-6-400, N153QS, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Pacific Ocean near Half Moon Bay, California. The pilot and 1 passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 ferry flight. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the accident site.
The operator reported that the airplane had a ferry tank system installed and 540 gallons of fuel was added for the transpacific flight. The airplane’s amphibious floats were removed for the flight. The flight departed the Charles M Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California, and was destined for Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. After departure, satellite flight tracking data showed the airplane on a southwest heading over the ocean at an altitude of about 15,500 ft mean sea level (msl). About 4 hours into the flight, the crew contacted ATC and reported that they were having a problem transferring fuel from the ferry tanks and that they intended to return. About 356 miles from the California coast, the flight track reversed course to the northeast, towards STS. At 1145 time, the flight crew reported that they lost fuel pressure and an engine. The last few minutes of the data shows an altitude drop from about 3,600 to about 240 ft msl. The last track
data point was about 33 miles off the California coast.
The U.S. Coast guard responded to the scene minutes after accident. The examination of the wreckage in the water revealed that the fuselage was inverted, and the wings and engines separated from the airplane. The horizontal stabilizer remained partially attached to the empennage and the forward fuselage had impact damage. Occupant and wreckage recovery was not performed.
More News
From 2021: The Inside Skinny On What Being An ANN Oshkosh Stringer Is All About By ANN Senior Stringer Extraordinare, Gene Yarbrough The annual gathering at Oshkosh is a right of p>[...]
Video Showed That During The Takeoff, The Nose Baggage Door Was Open On May 10, 2025, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N30689, was destroyed when it was invol>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
"I think what is key, we have offered a bonus to air traffic controllers who are eligible to retire. We are going to pay them a 20% bonus on their salary to stay longer. Don't reti>[...]
Aero Linx: Pilot Briefing The gathering, translation, interpretation, and summarization of weather and aeronautical information into a form usable by the pilot or flight supervisor>[...]
Oshkosh Memories: An Aero-News Stringer Perspective
See All