ENGLISH BAY, AK, USA
N6522T
Britten-Norman BN-2A
The airplane was departing runway 19, with winds from 240 degrees magnetic at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots, when it collided with an airplane parked across the east edge of the runway. No ramp area exists at the airport, requiring airplanes to park on the runway edge of the 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide airstrip. The pilots of both airplanes told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that there was room to taxi past the parked airplane.
On October 16, 1998, at 1555 Alaska daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A airplane, N6522T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parked airplane during takeoff from the English Bay Airport, English Bay, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the seven passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by C and L, Inc., doing business as Homer Air Service, of Homer, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on demand air taxi flight from English Bay to Homer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The company chief pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on October 17, that there was a right crosswind, estimated to be 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. During the takeoff roll from gravel runway 19, which measures 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide, the airplane drifted left and struck a Cessna 185 parked on the runway's east edge. The pilot stated in his NTSB Pilot / Operator report that during his takeoff, a gust of wind hit the airplane, it veered left, and contacted the Cessna 185. The pilot indicated that the Cessna 185 was parked perpendicular to, and across, part of the runway because there is no parking ramp area. The pilot said that there was sufficient room for the BN-2 to get by. The pilot of the Cessna 185 described winds of 15 to 20 knots from 45 degrees to the right. She said that there was enough room for the BN-2 to taxi past with 10 feet to spare. She stated that she heard full power from the BN-2 prior to the collision.
The pilot-in-command's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked airplane. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty crosswinds, and the congested takeoff area due to no parking ramp.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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