# NTSB ANC05LA100: PZL Warzawa-Okecie 104 Wilga 80, N2245T, Platinum, AK, July 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2005, 19:45 local (Jul 4, 2005, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Platinum, AK - Coordinates: 58.552501, -161.768615 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5525&lon=-161.7686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61927/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA100 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff initial climb from a remote beach, which resulted in a ditching and subsequent nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Ditching, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - water - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote beach on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot had previously landed on the beach and encountered soft terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained a broken propeller blade. The pilot replaced the propeller and then departed on the accident flight. After liftoff, the airplane climbed to about 50 feet, the engine power suddenly decreased, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot said his only emergency landing area was in the water to avoid an area of rocks. He indicated that the airplane stall/mushed into the water adjacent to the beach and nosed over. After the collision, the pilot exited the airplane and made it to the beach. The pilot said that the only portion of the airplane visible above the water was the main landing gear and tires. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2005, about 1945 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped PZL Warzawa-Okecie, 104 Wilga 80 airplane, N2245T, sustained substantial damage when it ditched in shallow ocean water following a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb from a remote beach at Cape Pierce, about 28 miles south, southeast of Platinum, 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 operated by Renfro Alaskan Adventures Inc., Bethel, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was en route to Bethel, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 4, the pilot reported that he was departing a beach toward the east-southeast, and after the airplane climbed to about 50 feet, the engine power suddenly decreased, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot said his only emergency landing area was in the water to avoid an area of rocks. He indicated that the airplane stall/mushed into the water adjacent to the beach and nosed over. After the collision, the pilot exited the airplane and made it to the beach, where he notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the accident via his satellite phone. The pilot said that the only portion of the airplane visible above the water was the main landing gear and tires. On July 25, an FAA air safety inspector notified the NTSB IIC that the pilot had provided additional information about the accident. The pilot reported to the FAA that he landed on the beach at Cape Pierce with two passengers. The airplane encountered soft conditions and nosed over, which resulted in a broken propeller blade. The pilot arranged for another airplane to retrieve the passengers and he replaced the propeller. The pilot then departed on the accident flight and experienced a loss of engine power, and subsequent ditching. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2245T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2245T-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N CF20890879 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL Warzawa-Okecie 104 Wilga 80 - Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-warzawa-okecie-pzl-104-wilga-80) (registry code 9810280) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl-K AI-14R series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-k-ai-14r-series) (registry code 67205, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CF20890879 - Airframe hours: 1560 - Engines: PZL-Warszana AI14-RA 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Renfro Alaskan Adventures Inc. - Registered owner: Michael Renfro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005 - Departed: Platinum, AK - Destination: PABE, Bethel, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 5,400 total, 325 in this make and model, 4,525 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °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 20050703017329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050703017329A), Jul 3, 2005: Wsk PZL104, Cape Pierce, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 3, 2005 a PZL-104 wilga airplane, N2245T, piloted by [privacy data omitted] nosed over upon landing on a beach at Cape Pierce, Alaska. There were… 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.