What happened
A flight departing from a gravel bar situated next to the Alatful River, destined for Bettles, resulted in a fatal accident. Shortly after departing the riverbank, the single engine airplane struggled to maintain sufficient altitude. During this initial climb phase, the aircraft collided with nearby trees and subsequently caught fire. The impact and the resulting post-crash flames completely destroyed the aircraft. There was only one person on board, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several environmental and operational factors. The primary cause of the accident was a stall during the initial climb caused by the improper use of flaps. Several other contributing elements were noted during the investigation:
- The pilot did not achieve the necessary flying speed for a safe climb
- There was an error in judging altitude, speed, and distance from obstacles
- The takeoff attempt was not aborted despite the developing situation
- Environmental conditions included loose gravel on the takeoff surface and presence of downdrafts and updrafts
- Obstructions such as trees and steep riverbanks at a bend in the river were present
- Limited visibility or obstructions to vision may have played a role
- The pilot attempted an evasive maneuver to prevent a collision