Alaskan Aviation Still Untamed

The NTSB has announced the search for information leading to a collision near Sutton, Alaska, that substantially damaged an aircraft while in flight, Alaska chief Clint Johnson said. 

A Cessna 180J (file photo, below) received wing damage, while its accident counterpart kept flying.

“We don’t think there was any damage to the other plane, but we don’t know that because it kept going. This is an accident, and we’re trying to figure out what took place. We’d like to get both sides of the story, so we are actively looking for that airplane,” said Johnson. Investigators have found few leads, so far, after combing through available radio communications in the area. Stumped, they are now requesting the help of aviation locals in identifying the aircraft. 

The incident comes only days after the latest FAA Alaska Air Safety Report, which brought outstanding issues into focus for the expansive, sparsely populated region. Aviation in the state holds a very unique position, with more than 80 percent of its communities accessible only by air. Some of the recommendations, such as improved AWOS service, may not have prevented the occurrence, but others, such as expanded ADS-B services, or the addition of lower-altitude flight routes could prevent similar accidents in the future. 

In 2020, the NTSB issued a Safety Recommendation Report, which included a missive for the FAA to “work with the stakeholders that service the Alaska aviation industry to implement a safety-focused working group to review, prioritize, and integrate Alaska’s aviation safety needs into the FAA’s safety enhancement process.” 

Through the spring and summer of 2021, a series of virtual meetings with local industry leaders took place, leading to increased funding and awareness for safety initiatives. Success has been seen in reducing safety incidents in the region around Bethel Airport, which has recently been the beneficiary of new weather observation systems. Interested operators may request additional systems from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.

The NTSB Alaska Office has requested any information on the incident, but no leads have been announced. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov