Accident Details
On February 20, 2009, at approximately 1515 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski-equipped de Havilland DHC-2/U-6A (Beaver) airplane, registration N5342G, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote frozen lake about 10 miles northeast of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the Civil Air Patrol Inc. (CAP), Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area proficiency/instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The three people aboard—a certificated flight instructor in the right seat, a second pilot in the left seat, and a pilot-rated passenger—were not injured. The flight originated at Kenai Municipal Airport at about 1415. CAP flight following procedures were in effect.
Pilot Report
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 20, the flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to familiarize the second pilot with ski operations of the DHC-2. After the second pilot completed a series of touch-and-go landings to the west on the frozen snow-covered lake, the instructor took the flight controls to demonstrate the next touch-and-go landing to the east. The instructor reported that after landing to the east, he kept the tail of the airplane up and the airspeed just below flying speed to create ski tracks and check snow conditions. As the airplane passed the midpoint of the lake, he applied full engine power for takeoff. The airplane became airborne but failed to climb sufficiently to avoid colliding with rising, tree-covered terrain at the departure end of the lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.
In a written statement to the NTSB, the instructor characterized wind conditions as calm while on an easterly approach, but reported an occasional strong gust of wind out of the west following the accident.
Weather Conditions
The closest weather reporting facility is Kenai Municipal Airport, 10 miles southwest of the accident site. At 1453, an automated weather observation system reported: wind 190 degrees (true) at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 30 degrees F, dew point 21 degrees F, altimeter 30.51 inHg.
Wreckage Examination
On March 2, 2009, following recovery of the wreckage to Anchorage, an examination was conducted under the direction of the NTSB IIC, with three members of CAP's safety assessment team and two FAA aviation safety inspectors present. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered during the wreckage examination.