# Accident 19970926029049A: Cessna 207A, Twin Hills, AK, September 26, 1997 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 26, 1997, 13:06 local time - Place: Twin Hills, AK - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: YAAA - Location: 58.8199° N, 157.8597° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8199&lon=-157.8597&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9984M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9984M-2013-06-27) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 207A (registry code 2073605, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520-F (registry code 17237, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A - Reported engine: CONT IO520F - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Pilot flight hours: 7,470 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 329 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA155) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970926029049A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. STRUCK MOUNTAINSIDE WHILE SCUD RUNNING IN A PASS. PEAKS REPORTED OBSCURED.THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH 180 POUNDS OF CARGO AFTER DROPPING OFF A PASSENGER. THREE COMPANY PILOTS OVERHEARD THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORT THAT HE WAS 13 MINUTES FROM HIS DESTINATION. THE OVERDUE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED BY COMPANY AIRPLANES ABOUT 700 FEET MSL, ON THE EAST SIDE OF AN 890 FEET MSL PASS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED ON A HEADING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CANYON AND THE PASS, IN A FLAT ATTITUDE, WITH NO GROUND SCARS LEADING TO THE WRECKAGE. NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND ALL BLADES ON THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED TORSIONAL TWISTING AND LEADING EDGE GOUGING. NUMEROUS PILOTS REPORTED THE PASSES WERE NOT OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PILOT'S CAMERA DEPICTED VIEWS OF THE ACCIDENT CANYON, WITH THE PASS AND ACCIDENT SITE ABOVE THE ALTITUDE FROM WHICH THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS CONTAINED THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. NUMEROUS DEPRESSANT AND STIMULANT, OVER-THE-COUNTER COLD AND ASTHMA MEDICATIONS WERE FOUND IN THE PILOT'S FLIGHT BAG, AND TOXICOLOGY TESTS REVEALED THESE DRUGS IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD AND URINE. (FROM .4) THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH 180 POUNDS OF CARGO AFTER DROPPING OFF A PASSENGER. THREE COMPANY PILOTS OVERHEARD THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORT THAT HE WAS 13 MINUTES FROM HIS DESTINATION. THE OVERDUE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED BY COMPANY AIRPLANES ABOUT 700 FEET MSL, ON THE EAST SIDE OF AN 890 FEET MSL PASS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED ON A HEADING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CANYON AND THE PASS, IN A FLAT ATTITUDE, WITH NO GROUND SCARS LEADING TO THE WRECKAGE. NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND ALL BLADES ON THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED TORSIONAL TWISTING AND LEADING EDGE GOUGING. NUMEROUS PILOTS REPORTED THE PASSES WERE NOT OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PILOT'S CAMERA DEPICTED VIEWS OF THE ACCIDENT CANYON, WITH THE PASS AND ACCIDENT SITE ABOVE THE ALTITUDE FROM WHICH THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS CONTAINED THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. NUMEROUS DEPRESSANT AND STIMULANT, OVER-THE-COUNTER COLD AND ASTHMA MEDICATIONS WERE FOUND IN THE PILOT'S FLIGHT BAG, AND TOXICOLOGY TESTS REVEALED THESE DRUGS IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD AND URINE. ## 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 ANC97FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA155), Sep 26, 1997: Cessna 207A (N9984M), Twin Hills, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude over mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were downdraft conditions,… ## Other reports on N9984M (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19930709026809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930709026809I), Jul 9, 1993: Cessna 207 (N9984M), White Mountain, AK, Minor damage. Fire under cabin floor. Used haylon fire extinguisher. Fuel line dripping gas caused by electrical arc. - [Incident 19910924049099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910924049099I), Sep 24, 1991: Cessna 207A (N9984M), Kivalina, AK, Minor damage. After landing cut corner on taxiway to avoid parked aircraft. Nose tire sank in gravel. Prop struck ground. - [Incident 19891011055739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891011055739I), Oct 11, 1989: Cessna 207 (N9984M), Point Hope, AK, Minor damage. Struck a parked snow machine when aircraft turned around to taxi for takeoff. 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.