Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from surrounding terrain during the takeoff sequence, which resulted in the airplane contacting the terrain, prematurely becoming airborne, and subsequently entering an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB analysis
The commercial pilot reported that, during a local public flight, he attempted to take off from an unimproved airstrip that included a dogleg right turn. About 100 ft after making the required turn, the pilot realized that he had not corrected enough to the right to get lined up with the straight portion of the takeoff area and that the airplane was drifting left. His failure to maintain adequate distance from surrounding terrain resulted in the airplane contacting a 5-ft-high berm, inadvertently becoming airborne, and entering an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently impacted the tundra in a left-wing-down attitude, bounced, and then came to rest about 180 degrees from the takeoff heading.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC15LA057 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 24, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Cold Bay, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Cape Sarichef (26AK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Found Acft Canada Inc FBA 2C1
- N-number
- N798
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2002
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Public aircraft
- Purpose of flight
- PUBF
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.