KING SALMON, AK, USA
N756SN
CESSNA 206
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A LAKE. THE NORMAL TAKEOFF PROCEDURE WAS TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUTH OF THE KULIK RIVER. THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH A PROTRUSION OF LAND ON THE SHORELINE LEFT OF THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER. HE THOUGHT THE PROTRUSION WAS THE ISLAND. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT IT WAS THE SHORELINE, HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT STEP TURN AND TRIED TO LIFT THE LEFT FLOAT OUT OF THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT IT STRUCK SOME TREES. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO CLOSE TO SHORE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
On July 19, 1995, at 0730 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 206, N756SN, registered to Katmailand Inc., and operated by Kulik Lodge, crashed into trees during takeoff from the Kulik Lodge located on Nonvianuk Lake, 53 nautical miles northeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of fish guiding, was departing Kulik Lodge and the destination was the mouth of the Alagnak River. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airline transport certificated pilot and the five passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the owner, when the wind is from the east they takeoff toward the mouth of the Kulik river which connects Nonvianuk and Kulik Lakes. The pilot stated he aligned the airplane's takeoff path with the island which is located in the middle of the mouth of the river. During the takeoff run he realized that he aligned the takeoff path with a protrusion of land from the shoreline left of the river's mouth. He attempted a step turn to the right and tried to raise the left float out of the water. The airplane became airborne and then struck the trees and crashed into the river. The pilot stated the airplane was too close to the shore to abort the takeoff. The pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN HIS TAKEOFF PATH.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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