Summary
On October 05, 2009, a Dehavilland DHC-2 (N490K) was involved in an incident near King Salmon, AK. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, and his decision to takeoff with a tailwind.
The pilot reported he was departing to the east with a 5 knot tailwind, in a float-equipped airplane, on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 other work use flight. He said that the purpose of the flight was to demobilize a remote fishing lodge at the end of the season. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run he realized that the airplane would not become airborne before reaching the departure end of the lake, and he closed the engine throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff. The airplane’s floats struck the shoreline, and the airplane came to rest on the shore, about 75 yards from the lake, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC10CA001. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N490K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, and his decision to takeoff with a tailwind.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported he was departing to the east with a 5 knot tailwind, in a float-equipped airplane, on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 other work use flight. He said that the purpose of the flight was to demobilize a remote fishing lodge at the end of the season. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run he realized that the airplane would not become airborne before reaching the departure end of the lake, and he closed the engine throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff. The airplane’s floats struck the shoreline, and the airplane came to rest on the shore, about 75 yards from the lake, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and in his written report to the NTSB, he attributed the accident to “pilot error.”
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC10CA001