- Date
- September 22, 2019, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mountain Village, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N77KZDe Havilland Beaver DHC 2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190922013449A
- Case key
- 100325
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 improper takeoff configuration due to distraction, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to become airborne and its subsequent collision with rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use the Before Takeoff checklist.
Findings · 6
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 in the float-equipped airplane reported that he did not extend the flaps before he accelerated for takeoff from a lake. He added that, shortly after coming on step, he rolled the ailerons left and applied back pressure to the elevator to "become airborne." However, the airplane did not become airborne, and the floats subsequently impacted the shoreline. The airplane then bounced, skidded to a stop, impacted rising terrain, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator. The pilot reported that he had not maintained a sterile cockpit during takeoff and that he failed to complete the Before Takeoff checklist. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot in the float-equipped airplane reported that, he did not extend the flaps before he accelerated for takeoff. Shortly after coming on step, "I rolled the ailerons to the left and applied back pressure to the yoke to become airborne." However, the airplane did not become airborne before the floats struck the tundra, the airplane bounced and skidded to a stop, upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator. The pilot reported that he had not maintained a sterile cockpit during takeoff, and he failed to complete the Before Takeoff Checklist. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N77KZ
- Reported as
- De Havilland Beaver DHC 2 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 950
- Built
- 1955
- Airframe hours
- 9,333.6
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 14, 2019
- Departed
- Mountain Village, AK
- Destination
- Mountain Village, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 29, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 830 in this make and model · 2,100 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Observed at
- PAMO, 10 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 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.