Overview
On May 27, 2011, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane, N8665Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from a private grass runway located about 5 miles east of Wasilla, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by Alaska Sky Sports of Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) parachute jump flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot and the five jumpers on board were not injured.
Sequence of Events
During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 27, the pilot stated that the accident flight was the second flight of the day and that the previous flight had been uneventful. In a written statement dated June 4, the pilot reported that during the accident takeoff he anticipated torque and P-factor, as well as a left crosswind. At rotation, he heard a "pop," and the airplane turned sharply left. He corrected with rudder and aileron but overcorrected, causing the airplane to veer to the right. He reduced power and attempted to regain directional control. The right wing struck trees on the right side of the runway, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right.
Examination
On May 27, the NTSB IIC and an FAA aviation safety inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. In addition to damage to the right wing, the left wing impacted a group of trees, and the left main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane after striking a tree. The airplane came to rest in a grassy meadow on its belly and left wing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
During a follow-up examination of the flight controls and landing gear by the IIC, control continuity was established to all flight controls. No mechanical anomalies were found with the main landing gear wheel brakes or nose wheel steering. The fractured left landing gear leg was examined by the IIC and an engineer from the FAA Aircraft Certification Office. The fracture surface appearance was consistent with an overload fracture.