Cessna U206G N735LS

Summary

On 5 September 2013 at about 23:00 local time, a Cessna U206G registered N735LS, operated by Alaska Skyways, Inc., was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 September 2013 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9181, -154.5578

Aircraft

Cessna U206G

Registration

N735LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alaska Skyways, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McGrath → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13CA094

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to conduct a precautionary landing following a loss of altitude during takeoff initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff from a remote mountain airstrip, at approximately 40 feet above ground level the airplane lost altitude, and began to sink. The pilot elected to conduct an off airport precautionary landing, during the landing the airplane nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the right wing, empennage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the narrative history of flight section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that he was unsure if the loss in altitude was a result of wind shear, or inadvertent movement of the flap selector by the passenger seated in the right front seat. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the operator stated that the accident may have been prevented if the company had established mandatory policies limiting loads out of short, high altitude, mountain airstrips, where gusting wind and wind shear is common.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.