Cessna 208B N1276P

Summary

On 10 February 2004 at about 20:52 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N1276P was involved in an accident near Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States. 7 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

10 February 2004 at 20:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Toksook Bay (OOK)

Coordinates

60.5336, -165.1136

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N1276P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toksook Bay → Newtok

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04LA032

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate planning and decision to initiate a takeoff into a crosswind that exceeded the airplane's demonstrated crosswind component, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and subsequent collision with terrain and nose over. Factors contributing to the accident were the crosswind, an icy runway, and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was departing on a VFR scheduled commuter flight. The runway was 3,200 feet long and 60 feet wide, and the surface had areas of packed snow and ice. A right crosswind was estimated between 15 to 25 knots. About 300 feet after beginning the takeoff roll, between 30 to 50 knots airspeed, the airplane began to drift to the left, which the pilot was unable to correct. The airplane departed off the left side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity, takeoff or landing, is 20 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.