What happened
During an ascent immediately following departure from Sitkinak Island Airport, a Robertson STOL aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall. The accident occurred while the plane was in its initial climb phase, causing it to impact the ground near the runway perimeter. The incident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot, and the aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing elements related to the takeoff attempt. The primary factor was the pilot's failure to properly manage and maintain the necessary airspeed while also neglecting established flight procedures.
Additional environmental and operational factors included:
- The presence of a 20-knot quartering crosswind.
- Unfavorable wind conditions during the departure.
- An attempt to execute a maximum performance takeoff using the Robertson STOL aircraft under difficult conditions.