Found Acft Canada INC FBA 2C2 accident near Willow, Alaska, May 31, 2014
On May 31, 2014 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 2007 Found Acft Canada INC FBA 2C2, registered N602BC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Willow, Alaska (Willow Spb airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during landing on water due to an encounter with wind shear, which resulted in the airplane's abnormal contact with the surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2014 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 2014
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Willow Spb · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Found Acft Canada INC FBA 2C2 2, built 2007 · all FBA 2C2s on the register
- Registration
- N602BC · registry record · serial 105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an approach to land on water in a float-equipped airplane. He said that, because of the high winds, he conducted the approach at a high airspeed. He stated that, when the airplane was about 50 feet above the surface, it encountered a strong wind shear, and the left wing dropped. The pilot noted that he had never before encountered such a violent wind shear during landing. The pilot applied full power and full aileron but the airplane struck the water with its left float and left side of the tail before he could get it completely level. The airplane bounced, and the pilot then landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all; 1,243 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-LICS (piston); 213 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK90 Willow AK
- Destination: 2X2 Willow AK
- Runway 13W, 3,600 ft by 400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 30 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 7:16 pm from PAWS, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on December 11, 2014. 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 |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N602BC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N602BC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Found Acft Canada Inc FBA-2 19 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-LICS 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Willow Seaplane Base · nearest airport
- Shirley Lake Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N602BC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC14CA032.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.