GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA020
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA020 |
Event Id |
20001212X20188 |
Local Date |
12/23/1999 |
Local Time |
1045 |
State |
AK |
Airport Name |
SEWARD |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
NONE |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
CLEAR |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
10 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
0 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
0 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Calm |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 135: AIR TAXI & COMMUTER |
Registration Number |
N70021 |
Aircraft Make |
CESSNA |
Aircraft Model |
185 |
Aircraft Series |
UNDESIGNATED SERIES |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
UNDEFINED |
Aircraft Use |
UNKNOWN |
Category of Operation |
NON-SCHEDULED |
Flight Plan Filed |
COMPANY VFR |
Domestic/International |
DOMESTIC |
Passenger/Cargo |
PASSENGER ONLY |
Operator Name |
DENNIS PERRY |
Operator Doing Business As |
BEAR LAKE AIR SERVICE |
Owner Name |
MANUFACTURED HOMES OF AK, INC. |
Number of Seats |
4 |
Number of Engines |
1 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
NO |
Departure Airport Id |
|
Departure City |
MONTAGUE ISLAND |
Departure State |
ALASKA |
Last Departure Point |
NO |
Destination Airport Id |
SWD |
Destination City |
SEWARD |
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
0 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
YES |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
3350 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| Continental |
Engine Model
| IO-520D |
Engine Horsepower
| 300 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
Carb/Injection
| FUEL INJECTED |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 ON GROUND/WATER ENCOUNTER WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF - ROLL/RUN
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
2 |
UNSUITABLE TERRAIN OR TAKEOFF/LANDING/TAXI AREA |
SELECTED |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
2 |
3 |
PRESSURE INDUCED BY CONDITIONS/EVENTS |
|
PILOT IN COMMAND |
FACTOR |
3 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
LARGE WAVE/SWELL |
|
FACTOR |
Occurrence #2 NOSE OVER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF - ROLL/RUN
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On December 23, 1999, about 1045 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N70021, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during takeoff from an off airport beach on Montague Island, Alaska, at 59 degrees 55 minutes north latitude, 147 degrees 30 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot, and the two passengers on board were not injured. The flight was operated by Bear Lake Air Service, of Seward, Alaska, under 14 CFR Part 135. The on-demand air taxi flight was returning the two passengers to Seward from a hunting cabin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.
The owner of the company, and the accident pilot, both told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the retrieval of the passengers had been delayed for five days due to bad weather. Both men told the IIC that they were concerned that if the passengers were not picked up, and the weather deteriorated, it could again be several days before they could be retrieved.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on December 23, the pilot of a second company airplane, who was in the area when the accident occurred, and was in communication with the accident pilot, said winds were light and variable, and the tide was coming in. When the accident pilot had not reported airborne to him 10 minutes after he said he was taking off, the reporting pilot returned and saw the airplane inverted in the surf. He related that all three occupants were out of the airplane, and had returned to the cabin for shelter.
The pilot wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, that he waited on the ground about 45 minutes for the passengers to collect their equipment. He said the incoming tide was to be very high, but he estimated the available beach to be 50 feet wide when he began his takeoff roll. According to the pilot, an incoming wave washed over the takeoff area in front of the airplane. He wrote that the airplane was "too slow to fly, and too fast to stop." He indicated he rotated the airplane off the ground and applied more flaps in an attempt to takeoff over the incoming water. The airplane settled, the wheels contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The air taxi pilot was picking up two passengers from a remote beach site. The flight had been delayed for five days due to bad weather. The accident flight takeoff was attempted during an incoming tide. During the takeoff roll, a wave washed across the beach in front of the airplane. The pilot wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Report that he was 'too slow to fly, and too fast to stop.' He said he rotated the airplane off the ground and applied additional flaps in an attempt to takeoff over the water. The airplane settled, the wheels contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area during the incoming tide. Factors associated with the accident were the incoming tide wave, and the pressure induced by the delays encountered picking up the passengers.
END REPORT