# Incident 20220512006839I: Aviat Inc A-1, Port Heiden, AK, May 12, 2022

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 2022, 10:15 local time
- Place: Port Heiden, AK
- Airport: Meshik River
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 56.9326° N, 158.6250° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port Heiden, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9326&lon=-158.6250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54JK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54JK-2025-10-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat A-1 (registry code 2210302, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT INC A-1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 11,102 total, 625 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220512006839I

## Narrative

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

5/12/2022 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FROM THE MESHIK RIVER THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE TUNDRA JUST OFF THE RUNWAY. THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER AND THE PILOT ON BOARDS. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

5/20/2022 SPOKE WITH NTSB. PILOT STATED THE WINDS WERE GUSTY THAT DAY. WINDS WERE 20 KNOTS CONSISTENT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE GEAR LEGS. THE PROP STRUCK THE GROUND BUT THERE WAS NOT PROP BLADE DAMAGE. THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE INTACT AND NON DAMAGED.

5/25/2022 AM UNABLE TO CONTACT THE PILOT ON THE SATELLITE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WITH THE REPORT. I AM CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO FIND A LOCAL NUMBER TO CONTACT HIM.

5/26/2022 CONTACTED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND WAS ABLE TO PROCURE A LOCAL KING SALMON NUMBER FOR THE INCIDENT PILOT. LEFT A VOICEMAIL AND AM AWAITING RESPONSE.

6/7/2022 ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE PILOT AGAIN AND LEFT A VOICEMAIL. AWAITING RESPONSE.

6/8/2022 INTERVIEWED PILOT PERTAINING TO THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DEPARTURE. THE PILOT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR A FEW DAYS TO DEPART DUE TO WEATHER. DAY OF THE INCIDENT WINDS WERE CONSISTENT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY IS IN THE NORTH/NORTHWEST DIRECTION. THERE IS A DOG LEG ON THE END OF THE NORTHWEST SIDE. LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY IS ADEQUATE FOR OPERATIONS. PILOT ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS FROM EACH DIRECTION TO TRY AND MANAGE THE CROSS WINDS. WINDS WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO PUSH THE AIRCRAFT SIDEWAYS WITH THE PILOT USING MAX CROSS WIND CORRECTION TECHNIQUES. ON THE FINAL ATTEMPT HE DID NOT MANAGE THE WINDS CORRECTLY AND ON DEPARTURE ENDED UP IMPACTING THE TUNDRA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 KNOTS WHEN IT IMPACTED THE GROUND.  AIRCRAFT SLID ON THE BELLY POD, DAMAGING SOME TRIM PIECES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT PULLED UP AT IMPACT IN ORDER TO NOT CAUSE A PROPELLER STRIKE. THERE WAS A LARGE CHANGE IN TUNDRA ELEVATION THAT CAUSED A PROPELLER STRIKE AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. PILOT STATED COMPLACENCY AND POOR DECISION MAKING CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT.

PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS INSPECTOR WAS CONSULTED AND WILL BE CONDUCTING THE REMEDIAL TRAINING.

## Other reports on N54JK (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19960805025989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960805025989A), Aug 5, 1996: Chris A1 (N54JK), King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Tried depart tundra in gusty wind after liftoff downdraft caused ground impact. Aborted. Ground looped.

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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