NEAR NONDALTON, AK, USA
N33249
ROBERTSON C-U206F
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM HUDSON LAKE THE LEFT WINGTIP CONTACTED THE WATER CAUSING THE ACFT TO CARTWHEEL. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED & FLOATED FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE SINKING. A WITNESS REPORTED THE WAVES ON THE LAKE WERE AT LEAST 4 FT HIGH & BREAKING OVER THE FLOATS, & THE WX WAS THE WORST HE HAS SEEN SINCE ARRIVING IN LATE MAY OF 1982. THE WITNESS REITERATED GALE FORCE WINDS & HEAVY RAIN. HE ALSO STATED THE WAVES IN THE COVE WHERE THE TAKEOFF STARTED WERE OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF & THE WAVES WERE NOT A TRUE INDICATION OF THE WIND DIRECTION. THE WAVES WERE ALMOST 90 DEG DIFFERENT THAN THE WAVES IN THE CENTER OF THE LAKE. HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHEN THE ACFT GOT ON STEP BECAUSE IT WAS BOUNCING AROUND BADLY & THE WATER WAS HITTING THE STRUTS. THE ONLY PERSON HE COULD SEE WEARING ANY FLOTATION DEVICE WAS THE PLT. ALL THE LIFE VESTS WERE LOCATED UNDER EACH PASSENGER SEAT SECURED IN A POUCH BY METAL TWISTS FASTENERS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
