19990611021989A

(.19) On June 11, 1999, about 0723 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N41078, was destroyed by impact with trees and the yukon river, about 1.5 miles southwest of Tanana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a scheduled passenger/cargo flight from fairbanks, Alaska, to Tanana, to galena, Alaska, under visual flight rules (VFR) as flight 1604 under title 14 CFR part 135. The airplane was operated by larry's flying service inc., fairbanks. The certificated airlines transport pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The director of operations for the company reported that flight 1604 departed fairbanks about 0631 and was carrying only cargo. The flight landed at the Ralph m. Calhoun memorial airport, Tanana about 0712, and some cargo was unloaded. About 1,300 pounds of cargo remained on the airplane. The airplane departed runway 24 about 0718 for galena. A witness on the ground said the airplane appeared to depart normally, but remained low, flying over the yukon river, about 200 feet above the ground. After departure, the pilot contacted a local weather observation facility at Tanana on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), and reported he was having a problem with the airplane, stating he may have to ditch. He did not describe the nature of the problem. The pilot then said he was clipping trees, and was attempting to return to the runway. The airplane collided with several trees located on a gravel bar in the yukon river, separating the outboard end of the left wing. The airplane then collided with the water and sank. Portions of the left wing, and the left engine and fuselage, have been recovered from the river. An initial examination of the left engine indicated the propeller appeared to be feathered. The right wing and the right engine have been located in the river, but have not yet been recovered. (-23)it appears that at some point after takeoff privacy data omitted experienced a loss of power with the left engine. Because of rising terrain on his right side, he made a left turn and while attempting to return to the airport, or land the a/c on a gravel bar, which was mid-channel and to his left between him and the airport, he collides with several trees which resulted in the a/c losing the outboard portion of the left wing and loss of control. The a/c impacted the water and sank. (.4) a twin-engine airplane on a scheduled passenger/cargo flight, departed a rural airport located along the north shore of the yukon river with only the pilot aboard. The airplane appeared to depart normally, but remained low, flying over the river, about 200 feet above the ground. About five minutes after departure, the pilot contacted a local weather observation facility on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), and reported he was having a problem with the airplane, stating he may have to ditch. He did not describe the nature of the problem. The pilot then said he was clipping trees, and was attempting to return to the runway. The airplane collided with several trees located on a gravel bar in the yukon river, separating the outboard end of the left wing. The airplane then collided with the river and sank, about 1.5 miles south of the airport. A fast river current, and silty water conditions hampered recovery efforts, but the left wing, the left engine, and the fuselage were recovered from the river. The left engine propel ler appeared to be feathered. The right wing and the right engine were not recovered. Postaccident examination of the left engine disclosed no evidence that it was producing power upon impact, or any evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction. Inspection of the airframe disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.