# NTSB ANC96LA142: Cessna 206, N1801Q, Port Alsworth, AK, September 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1996, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.200477, -154.280624 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2005&lon=-154.2806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2894/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the unfavorable wind. ## 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 - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The air taxi cargo flight was departing a small, remote lake. The pilot of the float-equipped airplane estimated the wind velocity as approximately 5 knots. Shortly after lift-off, while still in ground effect, he said the wind either shifted or died down. He felt the airplane suddenly lose altitude, and continue to sink until it collided with rocks and the shoreline. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1996, about 1515 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N1801Q, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while attempting to takeoff from an unnamed lake located approximately 25 miles west of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The solo commercial certificated pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated at Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1100. According to the Director of Operations for Alaska Bush Carriers, the pilot told him he was attempting to takeoff from a small lake with a light load. The airplane had just lifted off, and was flying in ground effect, when the wind either shifted or died down. The airplane touched down on the water, entered a rocky shoreline area, and became momentarily airborne again. The airplane subsequently crashed just beyond the shoreline. Emergency medical treatment was provided by a veterinarian who was an Alaska Bush Carrier's customer and was camped nearby. The veterinarian sutured a wound over the pilot's eye. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1801Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1801Q-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N U20602925, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20602925 - Airframe hours: 5005 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Alaska Bush Carriers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 1996, 69 hours before - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,265 total, 65 in this make and model, 3,095 as pilot in command, 348 in the last 90 days, 162 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19960903025889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960903025889A), Sep 3, 1996: Cessna U206F, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. Lifted off lake then settled due windshift into rocky area. Bounced into air but crashed on shoreline. ## Other investigations on N1801Q (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 ANC93LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA108), Jul 2, 1993: Cessna 206 (N1801Q), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SUBMERGED SAND BAR AND THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE TAXISPEED. 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.