Accident Details
On July 30, 2014, about 2230 Alaska daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, registration N62197, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff from a remote airstrip at High Lake Lodge, about 60 miles northeast of Talkeetna, Alaska. The pilot and one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to Gattis Aircraft, Inc., and operated by Glenn Air, Inc., Palmer, Alaska, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was originating at the time and destined for Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska.
Airstrip and Fuel Transfer Operations
According to the operator's president/chief pilot, the airplane was outfitted with a large, internally-mounted bulk fuel tank used to transport aviation fuel to a company-owned remote fuel concession at High Lake Lodge. The dirt and sod-covered airstrip is 1,400 feet long by 50 feet wide, oriented east/west at an elevation of 2,400 feet msl. It slopes downward slightly to the east, and at the time of the accident the airstrip was very soft and covered in mud.
The president/chief pilot related that upon arrival, the pilot began transferring 180 gallons of aviation fuel (100LL) to a storage tank using a hose and pump system. The pilot operated the pump for about 5 minutes but inadvertently did not open the drain valve, preventing the tank from draining. Believing the tank had been emptied, the pilot disconnected the system and prepared for departure. The president/chief pilot noted that the pilot did not visually check the remaining quantity in the tank.
Pilot's Account
In his written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that after arriving, "the fuel handler" directed the unloading of the fuel. Once the fuel was unloaded, the fuel handler informed him the tank was empty, so the pilot departed for the return flight. The pilot reported that the initial takeoff run was to the east and downhill, so acceleration appeared normal, likely due to the down-sloping grade. However, as the takeoff roll continued and the airplane neared the departure end, it did not lift off, so he aborted the takeoff. The airplane subsequently overran the departure end, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Postaccident Findings
According to the operator's president/chief pilot, a postaccident examination revealed that the entire 180 gallons of aviation fuel remained in the internally-mounted bulk fuel tank. Additionally, witnesses reported that the pilot departed about midfield, with only 750 feet remaining on the wet, muddy, soft airstrip. The president/chief pilot added that given the aircraft and environmental conditions, the estimated takeoff distance required would have been between 850 and 900 feet.