ANC96LA123

The pilot was returning to a gravel beach site with his amphibious airplane where he had off-loaded passengers and cargo about 1-1/2 hours earlier. He landed on an adjoining lake, and taxied up the inclined shoreline onto the beach towards where his previous load of passengers had established a camp. While taxiing on the beach, the pilot turned the airplane to the left to complete a 180-degree turn and face the lake he had just landed on. During the turn, the tail of the airplane struck one bystander, and narrowly missed another. The pilot stated that he saw several people on the beach, but did not see the individual he hit. The air taxi company's operations manual states that it is the pilot's responsibility to afford 'public protection' while the airplane is being operated in the vicinity of ground personnel.

On July 26, 1996, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, an amphibian Grumman G21A "Goose" airplane, N4763C, operated by Fresh Water Adventures, struck a bystander while taxiing onto the shoreline of Pegati Lake. Pegati Lake is located about 74 miles northwest of Dillingham, Alaska. The bystander received serious injuries; the airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger aboard the airplane were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight operated in visual meteorological conditions.

The air taxi flight was part of a flight of two airplanes returning to Pegati Lake after off loading passengers and equipment in preparation for a guided fishing trip. The first landing at Pegati Lake occurred about 1630.

According to witness statements, the two airplanes flew in close proximity to the camp site, and then landed on Pegati Lake. A number of the guests were in the mess tent, along with their guides, and an employee of Fresh Water Adventures, when the airplanes flew by. The occupants left the mess tent to watch/meet the airplanes. None of the guests who provided a written statement recalled receiving any instructions regarding where to stand, or any precautions to take while the airplanes taxied onto the shore. The accident airplane taxied onto the gravel beach in front of the camp. The second airplane beached further away from the camp site. While beaching the accident airplane, the pilot added power to taxi up the inclined shoreline, and then turned to his left, making an approximate 180 degree turn to face the lake. During the left turn, the right horizontal stabilizer struck a guest who had been standing on the shoreline adjacent to some bushes.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 12, the pilot reported he landed the airplane on Pegati Lake, and taxied from the water onto the shore. He said he continued to taxi onto the gravel beach, and as was his practice, kept the airplane moving so it would not sink into the gravel and become stuck. He said he normally taxies straight up the beach, and then turns the airplane around and points downhill towards the lake. On the accident flight, he turned the airplane around, and was exiting the airplane when he was told that the tail of the airplane had struck a man who had been taking pictures of the airplane. The pilot said he saw other fishermen higher up on the beach, but he didn't see the person the airplane hit.

The injured guest submitted two written statements to the NTSB IIC; both statements are attached. He states he received no instructions from anyone as to where he should be standing. He said he felt he was standing in a safe area because he was adjacent to other bystanders, and was up the beach and near the brush line. As the airplane taxied onto the beach, he said he turned partially away from the airplane to shield himself from the anticipated propeller wash. Shortly after he turned, he saw a portion of the right wing pass over his left shoulder, and then was struck in the back by the tail of the airplane. He also related at least one other person was either struck by the airplane, or came very close to being hit.

The injured guest reported he was in the hospital for several days, and received four broken ribs and a damaged lung from the impact with the airplane.

An excerpt from the Fresh Water Adventures Air Taxi Operations Manual, Chapter 8, says, in part: Public Protection (801) General: The pilot-in-command shall be responsible to assure that adequate measures are taken to afford public protection in the vicinity of aircraft during periods of its operation or contemplated operation, unless such responsibility has been delegated to another by officials of the company. The pilot may delegate others to assist him in obtaining public protection; however, he cannot delegate his responsibility.