Haines

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Haines while completing a survey flight on behalf of the fish and wildlife Department. Both occupants were killed.

The flight was cleared on an IFR flight from Whitehorse to Juneau, via V-428 to Chill intersection, then direct to Juneau. Chill intersection was located on V-428, 36 miles south of Haines NDB on a bearing of 146°. On reaching Haines NDB, the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance and continued under visual flight rules (VFR). Subsequently, the aircraft crashed on a glacier between Haines and Juneau, approximately 15 miles southeast of Haines NDB at an elevation of about 4,500 feet. A pilot, flying about 5 miles southwest of the crash site at the time of the accident, reported a broken to overcast ceiling at 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet msl. The accident site was near the Haines transition of the Barlo 4 departure (sid). In that area, the minimum en route altitude for flight on the Haines transition was 9,000 feet under instrument flight rules.

The aircraft was engaged in an ambulance flight, carrying a patient from Haines to Juneau. Upon departure, the airplane crashed into the harbor in unclear circumstances, killing the patient and all three crew members. Three other passengers were injured.
Crew:
Al1 Clifford E. Habecker, pilot, †
Ad1 Andrew P. Tournier, copilot, †
Al3 Doyle E. Jahn, flight engineer. †
Passenger:
Fred Harrington (patient). †