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Atlas / NTSB / ANC24LA065

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC24LA065

2024-07-12 Woleai Atoll, Other Foreign, Federated States Of Micronesia Airport · PVT None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N44MA

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BEECH 65-B80

Engine

LYCOMING TVO-435-GIA (280 hp)

Seats / Engines

9 seats · 2 engines

Last airworthiness date

19910219

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A54958

Registrant of record

PACIFIC MISSION AVIATION

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was a flooded runway.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during a short field takeoff on a runway that was flooded by heavy rain, the airplane’s right landing gear wheel went into a deep puddle of water and the airplane veered right. The pilot attempted to lift the airplane into ground effect to regain directional control, but the airplane was traveling too slow. The airplane exited the right side of the runway into tall grass and vegetation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Wet surface-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ANC24LA065.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.