N5343G

On September 24, 1996, at 1100 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 airplane, N5343G, registered to and operated by Aniak Air Guides of Aniak, Alaska, crashed into terrain after an aborted takeoff from Oskawalik Lake, which is located approximately 50 miles east of Aniak. The on demand air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, was departing the lake and the destination was Aniak, Alaska. A company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged.

During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 26, 1996, he stated that he landed on the lake to pick up two hunters. While they were loading the airplane, a snow shower moved in and the visibility degraded from 3 miles to less than 1/4 mile. After approximately 5 minutes, the snow shower stopped and visibility improved to 5 miles. He elected to takeoff. He brushed his hand on the tail surface of the airplane and noted that the snow brushed off easily. He did not brush any more snow off the airplane. The pilot stated that when he started the engine he looked out at the tail and saw that the snow had blown off the tail. He assumed that it would blow off the rest of the airplane during the takeoff run. The airplane lifted off the surface of the lake and would not climb above 5 feet of altitude. The pilot aborted the takeoff and had insufficient room to stop the airplane. The airplane collided with the shoreline.