ANC94LA034

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were the strong crosswinds and the icy/snow covered taxi surface.

The pilot landed on runway 30 with wind from 320 at 25 to 28 knots. After the cargo was unloaded the pilot taxied for takeoff. While taxiing on runway 22, as the airplane taxied beyond the cover of several buildings, it began to slide sideways to the left. The pilot added power in an attempt to control the airplane but it continued to slide and then flipped over.

On February 11, 1994, at approximately 1720 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N60491, registered to and owned and operated by Yute Air Alaska, Inc. nosed over while taxiing for takeoff at the airport in New Koliganek, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The repositioning flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, was taxiing for takeoff when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. During a telephone interview on the afternoon of February 16, 1994, the pilot-in-command told the NTSB investigator-in- charge that a few minutes prior to the accident, he landed on runway 30 at New Koliganek and at that time the wind was blowing from about 320 degrees magnetic at 25 to 28 knots. After unloading all of the cargo on board the plane, he proceeded to taxi for takeoff down runway 22. To the best of his knowledge, the wind direction and velocity were generally about the same as that encountered during the landing. As a result of the right quartering tailwind, he applied down aileron to the right wing and down elevator (yoke forward). The plane's wing flaps were retracted. As the airplane taxied beyond the cover of several buildings, it began to slide sideways to the left. He applied additional power to about 1700-1800 RPMs but the airplane kept sliding and flipped upside down near the center crown of the runway. -