A bear-viewing excursion ended abruptly on Tuesday when a NorthAir Cessna 207 crash landed on a beach in Chinitna Bay. The flight originated in Kenai and approached the beach landing site at approximately 4:30 p.m. All six occupants, one pilot and five passengers were reportedly uninjured and required no medical attention.
Clint Johnson, Alaska Chief with the National Transportation Safety Board explained the details of the incident.
Johnson: “At this point were right now, what we know is there was a flight with six occupants on board, obviously five passengers, one pilot that were on the way for bear viewing. Our understanding is at this point right now, while on approach the airplane landed a little short and subsequently collided with some soft tundra or beach material, and unfortunately flipped over on its back. Nosed over and came to rest inverted.”
Johnson confirmed that the plane sustained substantial damage and that NTSB investigators are working closely with the operators to gather information and at this point NTSB will not be launching on this accident. Recovery efforts are ongoing with cooperation between the operator and the NTSB.