Cessna TU206G N5371U

Summary

On 18 January 2006 at about 17:45 local time, a Cessna TU206G registered N5371U, operated by Copper River Air Taxi, was involved in an accident near Cordova, Alaska, United States. 2 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

18 January 2006 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Cordova, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.1164, -143.2625

Aircraft

Cessna TU206G

Registration

N5371U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Copper River Air Taxi

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cordova → Cordova

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06LA017

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted an overrun and subsequent collision with an embankment. A factor contributing to the accident was the snow-covered airstrip.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was departing from a snow-covered airstrip on a Title 14 CFR Part 135 flight in a tundra tire/tricycle gear-equipped airplane. The airstrip was about 1,700 feet long, and while waiting for his client, the pilot said that 3 to 4 inches of snow fell in the area. Before departure, he removed snow from the wings, calculated a go/no-go position on the airstrip for liftoff, and began the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot said the airplane would not lift off the snow-covered surface, and he decided to abort the takeoff slightly beyond his predetermined go/no-go mark. The airplane departed off the left side of the airstrip, and collided with brush and an embankment. The airplane received damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and the right wing. In the optional portion of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot wrote that his safety recommendation to prevent the accident was to "taxi back and forth on the runway to allow plane to accelerate faster."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.