Amateur-built 104 Wilga 80 accident near Platinum, Alaska, July 4, 2005
On July 4, 2005 at about 3:45 am local time, a amateur-built 104 Wilga 80, registered N2245T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Platinum, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff initial climb from a remote beach, which resulted in a ditching and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2005 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Platinum, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 104 Wilga 80
- Registration
- N2245T · no longer on the register · serial CF20890879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote beach on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot had previously landed on the beach and encountered soft terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained a broken propeller blade. The pilot replaced the propeller and then departed on the accident flight. After liftoff, the airplane climbed to about 50 feet, the engine power suddenly decreased, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot said his only emergency landing area was in the water to avoid an area of rocks. He indicated that the airplane stall/mushed into the water adjacent to the beach and nosed over. After the collision, the pilot exited the airplane and made it to the beach. The pilot said that the only portion of the airplane visible above the water was the main landing gear and tires.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,400 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 4,525 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 3,087 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Warszana AI14-RA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Renfro Alaskan Adventures Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Platinum AK at 10:45 pm
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.