ANC01LA094

The pilot stated he was attempting to depart a rural airstrip approximately 1,100 feet in length. He said he elected to takeoff uphill, so he wouldn't have to fly into the sun. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot indicated he should have aborted the takeoff earlier in the takeoff roll, but he elected to continue, and overran the end of the runway and collided with brush.

On July 30, 2001, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna U206 airplane, N29167, received substantial damage when it collided with brush during an attempted takeoff from the Horsfeld airstrip, located about 70 miles northeast of McCarthy, Alaska. The private pilot/owner and the three passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and departed McCarthy about 1500, with an intended intermediate stop at Horsfeld, and a final destination of Anchorage, Alaska. No flight plan was filed.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 31, the pilot related he had flown to the site to look at the wreckage of another airplane which recently had an accident. The pilot's business is aircraft repairs and salvage. After looking at the other accident airplane, the pilot said he started the takeoff roll to the east, away from the sun and uphill. He said he should have aborted the takeoff, but continued the takeoff roll as he approached the end of the runway. The airplane overran the end of the runway, and collided with brush. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

Horsfeld airstrip is noted on the NOAA Anchorage Aviation Sectional Chart as 1100 feet long, and at an elevation of 3,300 feet msl.