# Accident 19970627016119A: Cessna 207A, Nome, AK, June 27, 1997 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 27, 1997, 16:33 local time - Place: Nome, AK - Airport: Nome - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Descent - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: FWWA - Location: 64.7099° N, 164.6202° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7099&lon=-164.6202&mi=10 - Aircraft: N207SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N207SP-2012-08-23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 207A (registry code 2073604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A - Reported engine: CONT IO520F - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Pilot flight hours: 1,745 total, 200 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA092) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970627016119A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. CRASHED EN ROUTE. (.4)THE FLIGHT WAS LANDING UNDER SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS. SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS ARE PERMITTED WITH A VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE, AND CLEAR OF CLOUDS. THE AIRPORT WAS THE PILOT'S BASE OF OPERATIONS. THE FLIGHT HAD HELD OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT SURFACE AREA FOR 26 MINUTES, WAITING FOR A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. WHILE OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT SURFACE AREA, THE PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND 2 MILES VISIBILITY. WHILE HOLDING, THE WEATHER AT THE AIRPORT WAS REPORTED AS 300 FEET OVERCAST. THE VISIBILITY DECREASED FROM 4 MILES TO 1 MILE IN MIST. THE PILOT WAS NEW TO THE AREA OF OPERATIONS, HAVING WORKED AT THE COMPANY FOR 24 DAYS, DURING WHICH HE ACCRUED 69 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. FOUR MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE SURFACE AREA FOR LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 260 FEET TALL RADIO ANTENNA TOWER AT 222 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE TOWER WAS LOCATED 3.85 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE RADIO TOWER WAS NOT CONSIDERED BY THE FAA TO BE AN OBJECT AFFECTING NAVIGABLE AIRSPACE, BUT WAS DEPICTED AS AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE VFR SECTIONAL CHART FOR THE AREA. THE TOWER WAS EQUIP PED WITH OBSTRUCTION LIGHTING FOR NIGHT ILLUMINATION, AND WAS PAINTED ALTERNATING AVAITION ORANGE AND WHITE FOR DAYTIME MARKING. ONE MINUTE AFTER THE COLLISION, THE OVERCAST WAS REPORTED AT 200 FEET, AND THE VISIBILITY WAS 5/8 MILE. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC97FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA092), Jun 28, 1997: Cessna 207A (N207SP), Nome, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (antenna tower). Factors in the accident were low… ## Other reports on N207SP (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19890524028399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890524028399I), May 24, 1989: Cessna 207A (N207SP), Nome, AK. Engine lost power. Precautionary landing on a road. Found a crack in NR6 engine cylinder. - [Incident 19880714042779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880714042779I), Jul 14, 1988: Cessna 207A (N207SP), Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Engine failure en route. Landed on tundra with minor damage. - [Incident 19780526040149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780526040149I), May 26, 1978: Cessna 207 (N207SP), Nome, AK, Minor damage. Engine failed enroute. Landed with minor damage. Broken crankshaft. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.