Noorduyn UC-64A N225BL

Summary

On 4 June 2001 at about 03:00 local time, a Noorduyn UC-64A registered N225BL, operated by Manufactured Homes of Alaska Inc, was involved in an accident near Seward, Alaska, United States. 6 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

4 June 2001 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Seward, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.0167, -148.6667

Aircraft

Noorduyn UC-64A

Registration

N225BL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Manufactured Homes of Alaska Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seward → Seward

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA062

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, his inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commerical pilot reported to the NTSB that prior to departure he briefed the passengers of the anticipated turbulence. He said that he taxied the float-equipped airplane to the farthest point on the lake that would allow the maximum amount of takeoff run. He said that just after takeoff, about 150 feet above the water, a very strong gust of wind pushed the nose of the airplane to the left. He applied full right rudder in an attempt to regain control, but the nose of the airplane continued to the left, and the left wing stalled. The pilot said: "The airplane just stopped flying, and we just fell from about 100 feet." As the airplane's floats struck the surface of the lake, the left side of the fuselage buckled, and the left wing struck the water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.