The unnamed Smokey Bay Air pilot wrote in a statement that the runway was covered with 3 inches of slush, with up to 6 inches sitting in potholes, the report said. The 1,850-foot runway, surrounded by water and terrain, is not maintained on a regular basis, the NTSB said.
The slush slowed the Cessna 206 as it sped toward takeoff, the NTSB said.
"Another pilot that was at the north end of the airport said he saw the airplane take off in a nose-high attitude, 'as you would expect of a soft-field takeoff,' " the report said.
The pilot in the ill-fated Cessna reported that a strong downdraft struck just as he lifted off and banked to the left. Despite being at full throttle, the plane started dropping and the pilot realized he would have to ditch it in the ocean, the NTSB said.
The plane hit water about 100 feet from shore, causing significant damage, the report said. The pilot and passengers exited through the pilot's door and swam to safety, the NTSB said.
All four suffered minor injuries.
The report noted that pilots at the Nanwalek airport often experience turbulence and downdrafts and that the final 1,000-foot portion of the runway is listed as "closed."
NTSB investigator Chris Shaver said he is looking into the Department of Transportation's "closed" designation but he said there is no specific regulation against using such a runway.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
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