What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 26, 2000 at about 1215 local time, DHC-2 float equipped airplane, N444EF sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during takeoff from alagnek river 1/4 mile south of katmai lodge. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91 as a lodge operator day fishing trip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed with flight service. It appears the pilot was departing katmai lodge with four lodge guests. During takeoff while the aircraft was on "step" a gust of wind "weather cocked" the airplane resulting in the aircraft veering off the river and colliding with terrain. The leading edge on all lift surfaces and right float sustained substantial damage. There are no reported injuries. Five days later the aircraft was flown to anchorage under an approved ferry permit.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 26, 2000 AT ABOUT 1215 LOCAL TIME, DHC-2 FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, N444EF SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF FROM ALAGNEK RIVER 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF KATMAI LODGE. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A LODGE OPERATOR DAY FISHING TRIP. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED WITH FLIGHT SERVICE. IT APPEARS THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING KATMAI LODGE WITH FOUR LODGE GUESTS. DURING TAKEOFF WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON "STEP" A GUST OF WIND "WEATHER COCKED" THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT VEERING OFF THE RIVER AND COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN. THE LEADING EDGE ON ALL LIFT SURFACES AND RIGHT FLOAT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES. FIVE DAYS LATER THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN TO ANCHORAGE UNDER AN APPROVED FERRY PERMIT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.