Report: Ketchikan Flightseeing Plane Was Equipped with Adequate GPS Tech

A federal accident report says a sightseeing floatplane that crashed in a mountainous site near Ketchikan, killing all nine on board, was equipped with technology to provide better information about the terrain.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report was released today (Tuesday). The deHavilland DHC-3 crashed June 25 on a steep cliff about 25 miles from Ketchikan, killing the pilot and eight cruise ship passengers. The report drew no conclusions about the cause of the crash.

The NTSB has removed from the wreckage instrument panels that are part of a terrain-avoidance technology known as the Capstone program.

The program generally provides GPS technology that allows pilots to see on cockpit displays concise information about terrain, other aircraft and weather.

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