On September 30, 1988, a Cessna 206 (registration N4634Z) operated by Homer Air was involved in an aviation accident near Homer, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to check the fuel supply prior to flight, which resulted in water contamination affecting engine operation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A complete engine failure occurred just after liftoff, causing the aircraft to crash onto mud flats near the departure end of runway 21 due to fuel supply issues.
What happened
The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power immediately following takeoff. The plane subsequently crashed into the mud flats located approximately 500 feet from the departure end of runway 21.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis revealed significant issues regarding fuel management. It was determined that the pilot failed to inspect the fuel supply prior to initiating the flight. Additionally, there had been previous instances of water contamination found within the fuel system.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident included the complete engine failure and the lack of proper pre-flight fuel checks. The presence of water in the fuel further compromised engine performance during the critical takeoff phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to check the fuel supply prior to flight, which resulted in water contamination affecting engine operation.