# NTSB ANC10LA025: Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, N663SA, Kodiak, AK, March 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 2010, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.75, -152.493896 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7500&lon=-152.4939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 75500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75500/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75500 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during takeoff resulting in collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1520221), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was taking off on a passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. He reported that during takeoff the wind was reported from 290-300 degrees, at 15 knots, gusting to 27 knots. He chose to make an intersection takeoff on runway 25 at its intersection with runway 29, rather than use the full length of runway 29. He said his airspeed did not develop as quickly as he had anticipated, and that with his airspeed lagging and poor climb performance, he realized the airplane was not going to clear the ridge at the end of the runway. He said he initiated a right descending turn to maintain his airspeed, but impacted trees alongside the runway. He reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage when it impacted trees. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 2010, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 airplane, N663SA, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and impact with terrain during takeoff initial climb at the Kodiak Airport, Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Servant Air, Kodiak, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and the second passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was bound for Old Harbor, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 17, an FAA air safety inspector who interviewed witnesses at the airport, said one witness who was familiar with the Britten-Norman airplane said he saw the airplane at full power attempting to out climb the terrain at the end of the runway, before it descended into the trees. The witness reported that the right wing of the airplane struck the trees first, and then rolled left, striking trees with its left wing, and then continued its descent into the trees. In a written statement to the NTSB dated March 23, the pilot said that the wind was reported as from 290-300 degrees, at 15 knots, gusting to 27 knots, and he chose to make an intersection takeoff on runway 25 at the intersection of runway 25 and runway 29. He said his airspeed did not develop as quickly as he had anticipated. The pilot reported that with his airspeed lagging and poor climb performance, he realized the airplane was not going to clear the ridge at the end of the runway. He said he initiated a right descending turn to maintain his airspeed, and flared for impact with the trees. The statement also indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N663SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N663SA-2017-02-16), registration cancelled 2017-02-16, S/N 4, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2A-21 - Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN-2A-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2a-21) (registry code 1520221) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1b5) (registry code 41665, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4 - Airframe hours: 11348 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-540-K1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Servant Air Inc., doing business as Servant Air - Registered owner: Paklook Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 3, 2010 - Departed: PADQ, Kodiak, AK - Destination: 6R7, Old Harbor, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PADQ, Kodiak, runway 25, 7,542 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 22, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 7,370 total, 106 in this make and model, 6,208 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 21 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: PADQ, 1 nm away ## 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 20100315029589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100315029589A), Mar 15, 2010: Britten-Nor BN-2A-21, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot contacted Kodiak ground control and requested taxi from ramp to intersection of runway 25 and runway 29 at the Kodiak airport (padq). Ground control… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75500. 882 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Passengers (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Passengers-Redacted.PDF 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.