# Accident 20111215029459A: Cessna U206G, Nanwalek, AK, December 15, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2011, 15:20 local time
- Place: Nanwalek, AK
- Airport: Nanwalek
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: X53A
- Location: 59.3522° N, 151.9253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3522&lon=-151.9253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N252AL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252AL-2014-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna U206G (registry code 2073356, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 343 in this make and model, 218 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111215029459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON DECEMBER 15, 2011, N252AL, A CESSNA 206, DEPARTED HOMER, ALASKA TO PICK UP PASSENGERS IN NANWALEK, ALASKA. WHILE ON THE BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 01 AT NANWALEK, THE AIRMAN ENCOUNTERED A STRONG HEAD WIND FROM THE EAST AND DOWN DRAFT. THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS WERE 2-3 INCHES OF SLUSH WITH AS MUCH AS 6 INCHES IN THE POT HOLES. EXTRA POWER WAS REQUIRED TO TAXI. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO BACK TAXI TO DEPART RUNWAY 01; THIS WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM HAVING TO TURN DOWN WIND AFTER DEPARTURE AND AVOID THE DOWN DRAFT HE FELT ON LANDING. THIS ALSO WOULD GIVE HIM A 4 KTS TAIL WIND COMPONENT. AIRCRAFT N252AL BECAME AIRBORNE AT APPROXIMATELY THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRMAN INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE TURN OVER THE WATER IN ORDER TO AVOID OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT N252AL WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND WENT INTO THE WATER WITH FOUR PEOPLE ON BOARD; ALL FOUR PEOPLE EVACUATED SUCCESSFULLY AND SWAM TO SHORE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC12FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA014), Dec 15, 2011: Cessna U206G (N252AL), Nanwalek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff from a contaminated runway with unfavorable wind conditions, and his failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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