Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Igiugig, Alaska 99613
Wednesday, August 14, 2002 16:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport certificated pilot was departing toward the west from a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot said the wind conditions at the time of his takeoff were from the west at eight to ten knots. During the takeoff run, the airplane came up on-step, but the pilot said he felt a wind change from a headwind, to a right quartering tailwind of about eight knots. He reported that he had already passed a point where he could safely abort the takeoff, and he saw the airplane approaching the end of the lake. He said he rotated into a climb attitude and the airplane lifted off the water, but the bottom of the float assembly struck the edge of the lake bank. The pilot pulled the engine power to idle, and the airplane slid to a stop on the tundra.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind/weather conditions resulting in a collision with an embankment during the takeoff run. A factor contributing to the accident was a sudden wind shift to a tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone --
Event City IGIUGIG
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99613
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 592215N
Event Location Longitude 1545830W
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 Unknown
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 None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 325
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13038
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERTIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1943
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2003 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N920AS
NTSB Number ANC02LA101
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Helio
Aircraft Model H-295
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1279
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALASKA SPORTSMAN LODGE LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4068
Aircraft Owner City IGIUGIG
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99613
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City IGIUGIG
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City IGIUGIG
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2003 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --