Accident Overview
On August 2, 1993, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious Cessna 208 airplane, registration N9526F, operated by MarkAir, Inc., nosed over after landing on water with the landing gear extended. The accident occurred at Geographic Harbor, approximately 75 miles west of Kodiak, Alaska. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.
The flight was an unscheduled domestic cargo operation conducted under 14 CFR Part 135. It departed King Salmon, Alaska at 1426. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Statement
During a telephone conversation with the pilot shortly after the accident, he stated that he "just failed to use and comply with the airplanes checklist to ensure that the wheels were retracted for the water landing." He further stated that he was very distracted and preoccupied with several other mission-related activities.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause, as determined by the investigation, was that the pilot in command did not use the airplane checklist. A contributing factor was his diverted attention to other mission-related activities.