Accident Details
A pilot departed from a gravel bar adjacent to the Alatna River, with Bettles as the intended destination. Shortly after takeoff, the single-engine airplane experienced difficulty gaining altitude. It subsequently struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a stall during initial climb due to misuse of flaps. Several contributing factors were identified: failure to obtain flying speed; misjudgment of distance, speed, and altitude; failure to abort the takeoff; loose gravel on the takeoff surface; high obstructions in the area; downdrafts and updrafts; obstructions to the pilot's vision; an evasive maneuver to avoid collision; the takeoff originating from a river gravel bar toward a bend in the river; and the presence of trees and a steep riverbank at the bend.