# NTSB ANC99LA006: Britten-Norman BN-2A, N6522T, English Bay, AK, October 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 1998, 15:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: English Bay, AK - Coordinates: 59.39965, -151.319808 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3997&lon=-151.3198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45239/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked airplane. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty crosswinds, and the congested takeoff area due to no parking ramp. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - congested/confined area (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was departing runway 19, with winds from 240 degrees magnetic at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots, when it collided with an airplane parked across the east edge of the runway. No ramp area exists at the airport, requiring airplanes to park on the runway edge of the 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide airstrip. The pilots of both airplanes told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that there was room to taxi past the parked airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 1998, at 1555 Alaska daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A airplane, N6522T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parked airplane during takeoff from the English Bay Airport, English Bay, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the seven passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by C and L, Inc., doing business as Homer Air Service, of Homer, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on demand air taxi flight from English Bay to Homer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The company chief pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on October 17, that there was a right crosswind, estimated to be 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. During the takeoff roll from gravel runway 19, which measures 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide, the airplane drifted left and struck a Cessna 185 parked on the runway's east edge. The pilot stated in his NTSB Pilot / Operator report that during his takeoff, a gust of wind hit the airplane, it veered left, and contacted the Cessna 185. The pilot indicated that the Cessna 185 was parked perpendicular to, and across, part of the runway because there is no parking ramp area. The pilot said that there was sufficient room for the BN-2 to get by. The pilot of the Cessna 185 described winds of 15 to 20 knots from 45 degrees to the right. She said that there was enough room for the BN-2 to taxi past with 10 feet to spare. She stated that she heard full power from the BN-2 prior to the collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6522T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6522T-2006-09-22), registration cancelled 2006-09-22, S/N 136, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Britten-Norman BN-2A - Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2a) (registry code 1520204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 136 - Airframe hours: 13477 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: C And L Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 1998, 50 hours before - Departed: KEB, AK - Destination: HOM, HOMER, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KEB, English Bay, runway 19, 1,850 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,903 total, 61 in this make and model, 6,852 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981016029499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981016029499A), Oct 16, 1998: Bnorm BN2A, English Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Air taxi struck the wing tip of a parked Cessna acft,(.19) on October 16, 1998, at 1555 Alaska daylight time, a britten-norman BN-2A airplane, N6522T,… ## Other investigations on N6522T (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 ANC04LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA113), Sep 23, 2004: Britten-Norman BN-2A (N6522T), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his intentional flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain during… 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.