Old Harbor (Kodiak Island)

According to a passenger who was seated in the front, right seat, as the flight progressed toward the destination, the pilot decided to make an unscheduled landing at a lake that was surrounded by rising terrain. The passenger said that after making an easterly approach to the lake, before touching down, the pilot initiated a go-around. The passenger said they flew low over the surface of the lake toward a “V” shaped notch formed by a creek with hills on either side at the east end of the lake. He said that while flying through the notch, he thought the left wing of the airplane had hit the hillside. He said the pilot reacted by pulling back hard on the control yoke and rolling the airplane to the right. The airplane entered a steep climb, it began to shake, and stall warning horn sounded. The airplane then rolled left into a steep descent and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. The airplane’s left wing had impacted a tree on the creek bank prior to the crash. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological tests detected the pilot’s recent use of over-the-counter medications used for relief of cold and flu symptoms. Two of these medications are sedating. The use of these sedating medications on the day of the accident or the underlying illness may have affected the pilot’s performance. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and the passenger's account of the accident, it is likely the pilot failed to maintain adequate clearance with a tree while performing a low altitude maneuver following a go-around.

The airline transport pilot was taking off on a passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. He reported that during takeoff the wind was reported from 290-300 degrees, at 15 knots, gusting to 27 knots. He chose to make an intersection takeoff on runway 25 at its intersection with runway 29, rather than use the full length of runway 29. He said his airspeed did not develop as quickly as he had anticipated, and that with his airspeed lagging and poor climb performance, he realized the airplane was not going to clear the ridge at the end of the runway. He said he initiated a right descending turn to maintain his airspeed, but impacted trees alongside the runway. He reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage when it impacted trees. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

The pilot was informed by another company pilot that the higher passes were closed. He then attempted to fly through 'high pass' located near old harbor. The pilot described the weather as overcast with ceilings obscured, and flight visibility was 2 to 3 miles. The pass was snow covered. As he entered the pass he lost visual reference due to whiteout conditions and he initiated a left turn to exit the pass. Approx half way through the turn the left wing struck the mountain.

Few minutes before its scheduled arrival in Kodiak, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the Chiniak Bay. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found.

On December 24, 1961, N1503V, a Kodiak Airways, Inc., Grumman G-21A, a twin engine six-place amphibian crashed shortly after initial lift-off while making a water takeoff from Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, Alaska. One passenger seated in the cockpit was thrown into the water and drowned. The pilot, who was also thrown from the aircraft, and the remaining three cabin passengers, who exited through the main cabin door, were rescued within a few minutes. The aircraft was totally destroyed at impact and sank in 75 feet of water. Ceiling and visibility were unrestricted and the sea was relatively calm. At approximately 1050 a.s.t., the aircraft started its takeoff in a southwesterly direction. The initial takeoff appeared to be normal, but immediately after lift-off the aircraft was observed to descend, strike the water, and climb steeply. The aircraft then pitched down abruptly and crashed, with the nose and tail breaking off at impact.