What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The flight began at the lake near Igiugig AK (igg) for a down stream take off. There were six passengers plus the pilot. The pilot noted that the water conditions at the time were not ideal and a bit rough. The pilot initiated the takeoff down stream and when becoming airborne turned right soon overflying tundra and low trees. Shortly after this the engine began to sputter and shutdown. The pilot immediately notices that the center tank which was selected for takeoff was empty. The pilot then immediately switched tanks and attempted a restart. The aircraft was too low at this point and began to make contact with the trees below where it came to rest shortly after takeoff. Passengers stated that the engine did regain power but the aircraft was already making contact with trees at the time. Everyone was able to exit the aircraft on their own. There was no post fire.
As the FAA filed it
THE FLIGHT BEGAN AT THE LAKE NEAR IGIUGIG AK (IGG) FOR A DOWN STREAM TAKE OFF. THERE WERE SIX PASSENGERS PLUS THE PILOT. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WATER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE NOT IDEAL AND A BIT ROUGH. THE PILOT INITIATED THE TAKEOFF DOWN STREAM AND WHEN BECOMING AIRBORNE TURNED RIGHT SOON OVERFLYING TUNDRA AND LOW TREES. SHORTLY AFTER THIS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHUTDOWN. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICES THAT THE CENTER TANK WHICH WAS SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT THEN IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TANKS AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW AT THIS POINT AND BEGAN TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TREES BELOW WHERE IT CAME TO REST SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE ENGINE DID REGAIN POWER BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALREADY MAKING CONTACT WITH TREES AT THE TIME. EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT ON THEIR OWN. THERE WAS NO POST FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.