Noorduyn Aviation UC-64A accident near Seward, Alaska, June 4, 2001
On June 4, 2001 at about 3:00 am local time, a Noorduyn Aviation UC-64A, registered N225BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seward, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, his inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2001 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Seward, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Noorduyn Aviation UC-64A
- Registration
- N225BL · no longer on the register · serial 542
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commerical pilot reported to the NTSB that prior to departure he briefed the passengers of the anticipated turbulence. He said that he taxied the float-equipped airplane to the farthest point on the lake that would allow the maximum amount of takeoff run. He said that just after takeoff, about 150 feet above the water, a very strong gust of wind pushed the nose of the airplane to the left. He applied full right rudder in an attempt to regain control, but the nose of the airplane continued to the left, and the left wing stalled. The pilot said: "The airplane just stopped flying, and we just fell from about 100 feet." As the airplane's floats struck the surface of the lake, the left side of the fuselage buckled, and the left wing struck the water.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 5,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,336.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 2000; 17.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,540 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Manufactured Homes Of Alaska INC
The flight
- Departed from: SWD Seward AK at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SWD Seward AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Other NTSB records under N225BL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC01LA062.