N5371U

On January 18, 2006, about 1345 Alaska Standard time, a tundra tire/tricycle gear-equipped Cessna TU206G airplane, N5371U, sustained substantial damage when the right wing collided with the ground during an aborted takeoff/overrun from a remote airstrip, about 70 miles east of Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Copper River Air Taxi, Cordova, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect for the intended flight to Cordova.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 19, the pilot reported that he landed at the airstrip about 1145 and waited for his client. The pilot said the gravel surfaced airstrip was covered by about 2 inches of snow. The airstrip is oriented northeast/southwest, and is about 1,700 feet long, and about 100 feet wide. While waiting, the pilot said that 3 to 4 inches of snow fell in the area. Before departure, he removed snow from the wings, calculated a go/no-go position on the airstrip for liftoff, and began the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot said the airplane would not lift off the snow-covered surface, and he decided to abort the takeoff slightly beyond his predetermined go/no-go mark. The airplane departed off the left side of the airstrip as the pilot attempted to avoid a pond, and collided with brush and an embankment. The airplane received damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and the right wing.

In the optional portion of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot wrote that his safety recommendation to prevent the accident was to "taxi back and forth on the runway to allow plane to accelerate faster."