What happened
On the day of the accident, a float-equipped airplane was departing from a remote bay located approximately 20 miles north of Ketchikan, Alaska. The flight was intended to return air taxi passengers to Ketchikan following a ground tour.
The pilot reported that southeasterly winds had increased while waiting at the bay for the passengers. Unlike the calm conditions present during the arrival 2.5 hours earlier, the pilot observed choppy waves in parts of a nearby cove. To avoid these wind and wave conditions, the pilot elected to take off toward the interior of the bay, heading toward rising terrain.
The pilot's original plan was to execute a shallow, right-climbing turn toward the mouth of the bay. However, after takeoff, the pilot observed concentrated choppy waves along that proposed departure path, suggesting strong winds. To avoid these waves, the pilot decided to fly straight temporarily and instead planned a left, 180-degree turn within the bay, which was surrounded by high terrain.
During the initiation of this 180-degree turn, the aircraft was approximately 400 feet above the water. While attempting the maneuver, the pilot encountered a downdraft. This caused the airplane to be unable to climb above the rising terrain, resulting in an aerodynamic stall approximately 60 feet above the ground.
The investigation
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies. A weather study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the presence of a gust front in the area and an abrupt wind change coinciding with the time of the accident. Other pilots operating in the vicinity also reported experiencing turbulence, strong winds, and low-level windshear.