# NTSB ANC01LA147: Cessna 206, N35962, Galena, AK, September 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2001, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 65.133331, -155.666671 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.1333&lon=-155.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 54909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54909/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation for takeoff from an off-airport, short field site. Factors associated with the accident are a variable wind, and the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water - Nose over, takeoff - initial climb ## Analysis The pilot reported he was preparing to takeoff with a load of moose meat and a hunter from a remote gravel bar. He checked the performance tables for takeoff in the short takeoff and landing (STOL) modified airplane, and calculated he would need approximately 500 feet to takeoff. He estimated the length of the gravel bar as 600 feet. In his report to the NTSB, the pilot said a ground witness indicated the prevailing wind shifted from an 8 to 10 knot headwind into a 5 knot tailwind, just as the airplane became airborne at the end of the gravel bar. The pilot said he was unable to keep the airplane in the air, and it settled into the water at the edge of the gravel bar and nosed over. He noted in his report that the accident could have been prevented by: "Lighter loads and more of them. Closer attention to possible wind shear conditions." ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2001, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N35962, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a gravel bar in the Dulbi River, located about 43 miles northeast of Galena, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight (hunt/guide) operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The purpose of the flight was to transport a hunting client and his equipment to Galena. The operator was Kurt Lepping, doing business as Alaska Brown Bear Safaris and Trophy Outfitters, Wasilla, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 27, the pilot related he was attempting to takeoff from a 600 feet long gravel bar with a load of moose meat and a hunter. He calculated the airplane to be at or near maximum gross weight, and said that he reviewed the short takeoff and landing (STOL) modified airplane's performance tables. With the prevailing 8 to 10 knot westerly headwind, he estimated the takeoff distance to be approximately 500 feet. He said that the airplane accelerated normally, became airborne before the end of the gravel bar, but then settled into shallow water, nosing over and damaging the left wing. The pilot said that the owner of the airplane watched the takeoff, and told him the wind shifted from a headwind to a 5 knot tailwind during the takeoff roll. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot wrote under, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented): "Lighter loads and more of them. Closer attention to possible wind shear." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35962](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35962), registered now, S/N U20602833, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20602833 - Engines: Continental IO520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kurt Lepping - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Galena, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 62 in this make and model, 2,788 as pilot in command, 249 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010924026379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010924026379A), Sep 24, 2001: Cessna U206F, AK, No damage. (-23) Pilot attempted to make a take-off from an "off airport" gravel bar with insufficient runway available, with a 5 knot tailwind contributing factor. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.