ANC94LA082

The pilot reported that he was in a hurry to takeoff before it got dark. He began the takeoff with the flaps retracted because he did not use the plane's takeoff checklist. He recognized his error about three-fourths into the takeoff run. He reasoned that it was safer to attempt to extend the flaps and continue with the takeoff rather than abort. The plane overran the shoreline and collided with trees a short distance beyond. The plane's checklist was located on the flight control yoke directly in front of the pilot.

On July 15, 1994, at 2325 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N2297R, owned and operated by Air Adventures, Inc. of Kenai, Alaska, crashed during takeoff from the Kustatan slough, approximately 19 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot-in-command and two company employees, the sole occupants, were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The business flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of surveying potential fishing areas for clients. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was in effect.

During a telephone interview on the morning of July 16, 1994, the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he forgot to extend the plane's wing flaps prior to commencing the takeoff from the slough. The pilot said that he had about a 10 minute taxi and was in a bit of a rush to leave the area before dark. It wasn't until the flight was about 75% into the takeoff run and the plane showed no sign of wanting to fly that he became alerted to the fact that the flaps were up. At this point, he reasoned that it was safer to pump the flaps down and continue the takeoff rather than abort. The plane overran the shoreline and collided with trees a short distance beyond. The pilot said that the checklist for the plane was located directly in front of him on the flight control yoke.