- Date
- July 23, 1998, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Yakutat, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N121WCessna 206G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980723016979A
- Case key
- 43540
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and a premature lift-off. A factor associated with the accident is a sudden windshift.
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 pilot and two passengers were departing from a small lake. The main area of the lake was about 1,800 to 2,000 feet long, and about 200 feet wide. Several small fingers extended out from the main area of the lake. The pilot began a step taxi from one finger of the lake into the main area of the lake to gain momentum for departure. The wind was coming from the right rear of the airplane. During a right step turn to begin the takeoff run, the airplane encountered a headwind. The airplane lifted off the water prematurely, and climbed to about 10 feet. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, and forced the airplane back onto the surface of the lake. There was not enough remaining lake area to complete a turn, and the airplane collided with the shore. The airplane received damage to the floats, the main gear attach points, the wings, and the propeller.
Factual narrative
On July 23, 1998, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a turbine powered, amphibious float equipped Cessna 206G airplane, N121W, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a remote lake, about 49 miles east of Yakutat, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated airline transport pilot, and one passenger were not injured. A second passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 24, 1998, at 0950, the pilot reported the small lake he was using for departure, had an open area of water that was about 1,800 to 2,000 feet long, and about 200 feet wide. Several small fingers extended out from the main area of the lake. The pilot said he began a step taxi from one finger of the lake into the main area of the lake to gain momentum for departure. The wind was coming from the right rear of the airplane. During a right step turn to begin the takeoff run, the airplane encountered a headwind. The airplane lifted off the water prematurely, and climbed to about 10 feet. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, and forced the airplane back onto the surface of the lake. The pilot said there was not enough remaining lake area to complete a turn, and the airplane collided with the shore. The airplane received damage to the floats, the main gear attach points, the wings, and the propeller.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N121W
- Reported as
- Cessna 206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20606227
- Airframe hours
- 1,768
- Engine
- Allison C20-250-B, 420 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jeff A. Brevelle
- Registered owner
- Dale Hart
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 31, 1997 · 40 hours before
- Destination
- YAK · AK
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
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,700 total · 80 in this make and model · 5,400 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.