# NTSB ANC94LA115: Cessna 206, N14C, Skwentna, AK, August 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1994, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.929912, -151.730621 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9299&lon=-151.7306&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 May 10, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2547/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA115 ## Probable cause THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE HIGH WIND CONDITION DURING TAKEOFF. THE WIND WAS A FACTOR. ## 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 - high wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD DROPPED OFF 2 SHEEP HUNTERS AT THE REMOTE TUNDRA STRIP, AND WAS DEPARTING ON A CROSS-COUNTRY POSITIONING FLIGHT. THE AIRSTRIP ORIENTATION WAS 10-20 DEG TO THE LEFT OF THE PREVAILING WINDS, REPORTED BY THE PILOT AS 30 MPH. THE PILOT SELECTED 20 DEG OF FLAPS AND BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. FOLLOWING LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED MAXIMUM RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DIVERGE TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT THEN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEG TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE WAS ROBERTSON STOL EQUIPPED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE 20 DEG FLAP SETTING ALLOWED FOR THE MOST MINIMAL AILERON TRAVEL, AND A 10 DEG FLAP SETTING MAY HAVE HELPED GIVE MORE ROLL AUTHORITY. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1994, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N14C, owned by ACE Flyers Inc., a 14 CFR Part 135 on demand operator headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff from a remote tundra strip approximately 60 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Merrill Field in Anchorage, Alaska at 1145 for the purpose of transporting two sheep hunters to the tundra strip under 14 CFR Part 135. The departure from the strip was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of repositioning the airplane back to Merrill Field. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the mishap and that a company VFR flight plan was in effect. The pilot reported that the takeoff from the strip was on an easterly heading and that the prevailing wind was out of the east at about 30 miles per hour and about 10 to 20 degrees right of the departure heading. As the airplane left the ground, it began to roll to the left. The pilot said that he used full right aileron and right rudder but the plane continued to diverge to the left so he pulled the power and landed to the left side of the strip where upon the left wing struck the ground. The pilot indicated that the airplane is equipped with a short takeoff and landing (STOL) modification and he selected 20 degrees of flaps for the takeoff. That flap setting provides the most restrictive amount of aileron travel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14C-1998-07-28), registration cancelled 1998-07-28, S/N U20602803 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20602803 - Airframe hours: 7680 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ace Flyers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1994, 86 hours before - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: River Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 6,500 in this make and model, 8,400 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 24 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °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 19940809021049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940809021049A), Aug 9, 1994: Cessna U206F, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Uncontrolled left roll on liftoff. Aborted. Left wing hit. Cartwheeled. Used 20 degrees flaps. Limiting ailerons. ## Other investigations on N14C (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 ANC97LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA065), May 1, 1997: Cessna U206F (N14C), Hope, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power resulting from fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector, and the pilot's failure to identify and correct the deficiency during the ensuing… 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.