20160909017009A

On September 9th 2016 at approximately 1130 local time a redemption air inc. de havilland beaver; DHC-2-MK1, N91AK crashed on takeoff at the west end of Uganik Lake approximately thirty-five miles ssw of Kodiak, Alaska. At 1142 local time redemption air notified coast guard station Kodiak of the accident and two coast guard helicopters were dispatched to the scene. The lead helicopter arrived at the crash site at 1353 local time. Due to the severe injuries sustained in the accident all three persons on board the aircraft (pilot and two passengers) were airlifted to Kodiak airport and then medevac?d to anchorage Alaska for medical treatment. At the time of this report all three persons were recovering. A small dog was found in a pet carrier and appeared to have drowned in the cabin of the aircraft. There was no post-crash fire.

The beaver float plane was scheduled to depart Kodiak island harbor on a flight to amook island. Just prior to departure the aircraft was rerouted to Uganik Lake to take two redemption air mechanics and their tools to assist in repairs to a float pontoon on a company Cessna. The Cessna was flown by the company chief pilot who was also one of the witnesses to the accident. Earlier that day the Cessna had hit an underwater deadhead taxing on Uganik Lake and punched a small hole in a float. The beaver was to land at Uganik Lake and unload the two mechanics and tools and then continue onto amook island with the mail and two scheduled passengers and a dog. After making a normal landing at the west end of Uganik Lake and unloading the mechanics and tools the pilot taxied eastbound on the lake approximately 3800 feet to the area near the north shoreline that would allow for a takeoff westbound down the Uganik river. This would be the normal takeoff and departure route from Uganik Lake to amook island.

At about 1125 local time the pilot started his takeoff run westbound towards the river outflow and the aircraft was seen to lift off of the lake and start a climb. As the beaver passed over the witnesses the engine was heard to be operating normally at takeoff power. They stated that the aircraft climbed over the end of the lake, where they were standing, at an altitude of approximately 100 to 200 feet and then instead of continuing westbound out the river as would be expected it was seen to start a left hand turn as if the pilot was attempting to turn eastbound to avoid increasing terrain. This turn increased in rate and the aircraft was seen to begin to lose altitude. The left bank increased as did the rate of descent until the aircraft impacted the lake about 100 feet from shore and in 4 feet of water. The crash site was on the south shoreline of the lake about 200 yards to the south of the witnesses. Redemption air?s chief pilot commandeered a raft and paddled across the lake to the crash site and began a recovery effort to remove the passengers and pilot from the partly sunken aircraft.

The weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be clear but windy and gusty with increasing wind velocity later in the day. The national weather service reported average winds at Kodiak airport at the time of accident to be around 16 knots with the highest winds reported at 31 knots. The highest gusts recorded were 41 knots. The winds were reported out of the west most of the day. There is no wind reporting at this location but the witnesses reported gusty winds that were increasing at the time of the accident and the lake surface was seen to have had significant wind lines and cat?s paws on the water surface. The coast guard H-65 pilot that was the first responder to arrive at the accident site stated winds were over 20 knots. He also stated he was experiencing continuous light to moderate turbulence and significant downdrafts over the site just prior to hoisting the survivors.