# NTSB ANC04LA113: Britten-Norman BN-2A, N6522T, Kodiak, AK, September 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2004, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 58.566665, -153.916671 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5667&lon=-153.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his intentional flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain during takeoff-initial climb. Factors contributing to the accident were high and gusty wind conditions, and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - sand bar ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot, with six passengers, was departing from a remote beach in a twin-engine airplane on an on-demand air taxi flight. The beach was oriented north/south, and was utilized by airplanes transporting guests to and from a remote wilderness lodge. Weather conditions at the beach were reported to air taxi operators via satellite phone. The pilot reported that as he was departing toward the north, the wind was from the west about 30 knots, with gusts to 50 knots. About 20 feet agl, a strong gust of wind, or a downdraft, hit the airplane. The airplane descended and the left wing collided with the beach, which spun the airplane 180 degrees. The airplane came to rest in about 2 1/2 feet of water. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2004, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A airplane, N6522T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during takeoff initial climb from a remote beach area near Hallo Bay, Alaska, about 65 miles northwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Homer Air Inc., Homer, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; two passengers received serious injuries, and the remaining three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed to Homer. The flight originated from a beach area located along the Alaska Peninsula, about 100 miles southwest of Homer. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 23, the director of operations for the operator reported that the twin-engine airplane was departing Hallo Bay, Alaska, where a remote wilderness lodge is located. The takeoff area on the beach is oriented north/south. The director of operations said that the pilot began the takeoff with gusty wind conditions blowing about 20 knots from the west. He said that the airplane encountered windshear and descended to the beach, and came to rest partially in the ocean tidal area. The right wing was torn off the airplane, and the fuselage was torn open. The director of operations indicated that Hallo Bay Wilderness Lodge personnel provide weather reports via satellite phone for the landing/takeoff area. In the Pilot/Operator Accident Report, (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that when he departed Homer about 0930, the wind as reported by lodge personnel was from the west about 20 knots. When he arrived at the lodge about 1040, the wind was from the west about 30 knots, with gusts to 50 knots. As he was departing from the beach, the pilot indicated that about 20 feet agl, a strong gust of wind, or a downdraft, hit the airplane. The airplane descended and the left wing collided with the beach, which spun the airplane 180 degrees. The pilot said the airplane came to rest in about 2 1/2 feet of water. Search and rescue personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Kodiak, responded to the accident site, and transported all of the occupants to the hospital in Kodiak. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6522T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6522T-2006-09-22), registration cancelled 2006-09-22, S/N 136, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Britten-Norman BN-2A - Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2a) (registry code 1520204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 136 - Airframe hours: 16473 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-4C5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Homer Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 2004, 9 hours before - Departed: Kodiak, AK - Destination: PAHO, Homer, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,450 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 30 knots, gusting 50 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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 20040923024249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040923024249A), Sep 23, 2004: Bnorm BN2A, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 23, 2004, about 11:00 Alaska daylight time, N6522T, a BN-2A airplane, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while… ## Other investigations on N6522T (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC99LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA006), Oct 16, 1998: Britten-Norman BN-2A (N6522T), English Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked airplane. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty… 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.