# Accident 19970721023309A: Cessna 208, Naknek, AK, July 21, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 1997, 18:30 local time
- Place: Naknek, AK
- Airport: Tibbetts Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: PNSA
- Location: 58.8004° N, 156.8998° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8004&lon=-156.8998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9481F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9481F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 208 (registry code 2073702, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 (registry code 52256, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A114
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 18,546 total, 204 in this make and model, 291 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970721023309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 21, 1997, AT 1730 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 208 AIRPLANE, N9481F, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AT THE TIBBETTS AIRPORT, NAKNEK, ALASKA, AND IMPACTED TREES. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY PENINSULA AIRWAYS, INC., OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE FLIGHT WAS A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT NUMBER 354 FROM KING SALMON, ALASKA TO NAKNEK, ALASKA, AND WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FIRE OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE NAKNEK AIRPORT AT 1726, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO THE TIBBETTS AIRPORT, WHICH IS SEPARATED FROM THE NAKNEK AIRPORT BY A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE FLIGHT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED THE PATTERN TO LAND AT THE TIBBETTS AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED HEAVY RAIN BEGAN WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, AND HE LOST VISIBILITY WHILE ON HIS LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE 1,700 FOOT LONG BY 50 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY, AND CONTACTED TREES.                                                                                                                                                                    (.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL TO LAND WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN, WHICH REDUCED FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE LANDING, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED BRUSH AND TREES. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 1,700-FOOT-LONG X 50-FOOT-WIDE RUNWAY.

## 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 ANC97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA109), Jul 22, 1997: Cessna 208 (N9481F), Naknek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots decision to continue the landing into adverse weather conditions and failure to maintain runway alignmet. A factor was the rain shower which resulted in reduced forward visibility.

## Other reports on N9481F (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19901121061309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901121061309I), Nov 21, 1990: Cessna 208 (N9481F), Millinocket, ME. Engine quit in level flight. Forced landing on highway.
- [Incident 19901114065859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901114065859I), Nov 14, 1990: Cessna 208 (N9481F), Rochester, NH. Oil started spraying upon windshield in flight. Precautionary landing. Found oil dipstick had been left off.

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.

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