Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, March 15, 2010
On March 15, 2010 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21, registered N663SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kodiak, Alaska (Kodiak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during takeoff resulting in collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2010 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · Kodiak · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 · all BN-2A-21s on the register
- Registration
- N663SA · no longer on the register · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,370 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 6,208 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 22, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,348 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 3, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Servant Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PADQ Kodiak AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 6R7 Old Harbor AK
- Runway 25, 7,542 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from PADQ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 16, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Passengers | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N663SA: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Britten-Norman BN-2 54 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Britten-Norman 51 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kodiak Airport · nearest airport
- Old Harbor Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC10LA025.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.