Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iliamna, Alaska 99606
Monday, August 10, 2009 16:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot reported that he was operating his float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91 as part of his guiding business. He said he was departing a remote lake with four passengers after a bear viewing trip, and that he encountered a downdraft during the initial climb. In his report to the NTSB, he wrote: “there was not sufficient lake left to stop and I was unable to climb over the rising terrain.” The airplane struck terrain near the shoreline and came to rest upright. One passenger was seriously injured, and the airplane received substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to takeoff towards an area of rising terrain and potential downdrafts with a fully loaded airplane, which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft that exceeded the airplane's climb capability.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone --
Event City Iliamna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99606
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 582500N
Event Location Longitude 1544700W
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 --
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26049
NTSB Notification Source FAA - ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2009 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5110U
NTSB Number ANC09CA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 206
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2060110
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 5
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 10 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 6027
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HOMER FLYOUT ADVENTURES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 15356
Aircraft Owner City FRITZ CREEK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99603-6356
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HOMER FLYOUT ADVENTURES LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 15356
Operator City FRITZ CREEK
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99603-6356
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5BL
Departure City Homer
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Mirror Lake
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2009 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --