- Date
- September 18, 2015, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Bethel, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N910SPHelio H 395
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 17, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150918016469A
- Case key
- 92024
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 maintain a positive climb rate during takeoff initial climb, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees and terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated that after takeoff from a lake, about 30-50 feet above the treetops, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended uncontrolled into trees and terrain. The nearest weather reporting station was 7 NM to the north, and reported that the wind was 350 degrees true at 17 knots, with gusts to 23. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated that after takeoff from a lake, about 30-50 feet above the treetops, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended uncontrolled into trees and terrain. The nearest weather reporting station was 7 NM to the north, and reported that the wind was 350 degrees true at 17 knots, with gusts to 23. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N910SP
- Reported as
- Helio H 395 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 627
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 6,332.6
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Renfro's Alaskan Adventures, doing business as Renfro's Alaskan Adventures Inc.
- Registered owner
- Michael W. Renfro
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 6, 2015 · 71 hours before
- Departed
- PABE · Bethel, AK
- Destination
- PABE · Bethel, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- runway NA, 2,100 × 2,100 ft, water
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device
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
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 23, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,400 total · 70 in this make and model · 4,300 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.64 inHg
- Observed at
- PASM, 7 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.