Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nondalton, Alaska 99640
Tuesady, August 21, 2001 14:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated commerical pilot reported to the NTSB that just after takeoff, about 100 feet above the water, a very strong gust of wind rolled the wings of the float-equipped airplane about 90 degrees to the left. He said that he applied full right aileron in an attempt to regain control, but the airplane descended, and the left wing struck the surface of the water. As the airplane's left wing struck the surface of the water, the wing separated from the fuselage, pivoted the airplane 90 degrees to the left, and the right wing struck the water. Both floats were torn from the fuselage, and the airplane eventually sank in shallow water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were out of the northwest at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone --
Event City Nondalton
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99640
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 595800N
Event Location Longitude 1545038W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11945
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2002 4:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10395
NTSB Number ANC01LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1354
Certified Max Gross Weight 5370
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 18 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 16445
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ernest M. Brooks
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jack Barber
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code JKGC
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5NN
Departure City Nondalton
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TPO
Destination City PORT ALSWORTH
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2002 6:17PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --