- Date
- May 2, 1996, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Togiak, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N93HUAviat A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 1, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960502011929A
- Case key
- 2835
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to remove frost from the surface of the wings and his delay in aborting the takeoff. Factors in the accident were the presence of frost on the wings and a deteriorated climb performance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot was conducting flight operations in support of fish spotting activities and was departing a remote beach at gross weight. The pilot reported that frost was present on the wings of the airplane and he began a short field takeoff. The airplane lifted off sluggishly and then began to settle toward the ground that was sloping toward the ocean. At full power, the airplane touched down momentarily and then climbed into the air. The airplane skipped off the water about three times and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane settled into the water and stopped in a nose down attitude.
Factual narrative
On May 2, 1996, about 0830 Alaska daylight time, an Aviat Inc., A-1, Christian Husky, N93HU, crashed during takeoff from a remote beach area, about 4 miles southwest of Togiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, reported that the airplane was being operated in support of fish spotting activities near the Quigmy River. In the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Report submitted by the pilot, he indicated that he was departing at gross weight. The pilot reported that frost was present on the wings of the airplane as he began a short field takeoff. The airplane lifted off sluggishly and then began to settle toward ground that was sloping toward the ocean. At full power, the airplane touched down momentarily and then climbed into the air. The airplane skipped off the water about three times and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane settled into the water and stopped in a nose down attitude.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93HU
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1249
- Airframe hours
- 248
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Daniel E. Regan Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 940 total · 325 in this make and model · 870 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 25 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N93HU · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.