- Date
- July 24, 2002, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kodiak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4767UCessna 206
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020724017399A
- Case key
- 55304
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff run, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over. A factor associated with the accident was wind gusts.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The solo commercial pilot was departing from a saltwater bay in a float-equipped airplane. During a southerly takeoff run, just as the airplane came up on the step, the airplane encountered strong gusty winds from the south-southeast, estimated to be 25 to 35 knots. Just before the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing. The pilot applied full left aileron in an attempt to correct the roll, but the right wing struck the surface of the water. The airplane pivoted to the right, nosed over, and sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 2002, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N4767U, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the takeoff run from a saltwater bay. The bay is located about 40 miles northwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to an individual, and operated by Highline Air Service, Kodiak. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the accident site, about 1155, and was en route to the Kodiak Seaplane Base, Kodiak.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 26, the pilot reported that during a southerly takeoff run, as the airplane came up on the step, he encountered strong gusty winds from the south-southeast, estimated to be 25 to 35 knots. He said that just before the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing. He applied full left aileron in an attempt to correct the roll, but the right wing struck the surface of the water. The airplane pivoted to the right, nosed over, and sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4767U
- Reported as
- Cessna 206
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20605091
- Airframe hours
- 10,197.6
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dorman, Dan C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 14, 2002 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- ADQ · Kodiak, AK
- Destination
- ADQ · Kodiak, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 8, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,500 total · 9,500 in this make and model · 10,200 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 706 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.