What happened
During an on-demand air taxi operation, a twin-engine airplane was performing a departure from a remote beach used to transport guests to a wilderness lodge. The flight was carrying the pilot and six passengers at the time of the accident. Prior to the departure, the pilot had communicated weather conditions via satellite phone, noting a north/south oriented runway with westerly winds of approximately 30 knots and gusts reaching 50 knots.
As the aircraft climbed to an altitude of roughly 20 feet above the ground, it encountered a powerful downdraft or wind gust. This sudden atmospheric disturbance caused the aircraft to lose altitude, resulting in the left wing striking the beach surface. The impact caused the aircraft to spin 180 degrees before coming to a stop in approximately 2.5 feet of water.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a strong wind gust or downdraft during the initial climb phase.
- High wind speeds, including gusts up to 50 knots, were present during the departure.