Cessna 206G N4596U

Summary

On 2 August 1995 at about 17:10 local time, a Cessna 206G registered N4596U, operated by Rust's Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 1995 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9306, -151.7295

Aircraft

Cessna 206G

Registration

N4596U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rust's Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA126

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT (PROLONGED YAWING MANEUVER DURING STEP TAXI TURN), WHICH RESULTED IN UNCOVERING OF THE FUEL TANK OUTLETS AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION DURING TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE DEPARTING A REMOTE LAKE IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON THE RETURN PORTION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT. THE PILOT PERFORMED A HIGH SPEED STEP TAXI AT THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE LAKE, WHICH INCLUDED ABOUT 225 DEGREES OF TURN TO THE LEFT. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE TAKEOFF RUN ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF, AND IT CONTAINED ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. ABOUT 45 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN ADJACENT CREEK. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GRAVEL BAR AND NOSED OVER. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND DEVELOPED FULL POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, PROLONGED UNCOORDINATED FLIGHT SUCH AS SLIPS OR SKIDS WITH LOW FUEL RESERVES COULD UNCOVER THE FUEL TANK OUTLETS, CAUSING FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. THE STEP TAXI TURN WAS A (PROLONGED) WINGS LEVEL TURN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.