# Accident 19980527014879A: Cessna U206, Tyonek, AK, May 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 1998, 14:00 local time
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.0808° N, 151.1597° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0808&lon=-151.1597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5297U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5297U-2013-06-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna U206 (registry code 2073306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980527014879A

## Narrative

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

WINDSHEAR TRYING TO NEGOIATE A PASS UNABLE RETARD DESCENT IN LEE OF MOUNTAIN LANDED IN SNOWBANK. TORE OFF POD GEAR. (.4)THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND FIVE PASSENGERS DEPARTED EASTBOUND FROM A RURAL AIRSTRIP FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ACROSS HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE PILOT HAD FLOWN ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST.  HE OBTAINED PILOT REPORTS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS IN SEVERAL MOUNTAIN PASSES THAT TRAVERESED THE MOUNTAIN RAGE ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE.  THE WEATHER REPORTS INCLUDED WIND SPEEDS OF 40 KNOTS WITH TURBULENCE.  AN AREA FORECAST INCLUDED AIRMET'S FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION, TURBULENCE IN ALL MOUNTAIN PASSES, AND ICING CONDITIONS.  THE PILOT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR TURBULENCE OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO 13,500 FEET.  WHEN THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE LEE SIDE OF THE PILOT'S PLANNED CROSSING POINT OVER THE MOUNTAINS, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS.  THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND TOWARD BLOWING SNOW ALONG THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE.  THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO LAND INTO A SNOW BANK.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT 10,500 FEET MSL.  THE AIRPLAN E'S BELLY MOUNTED CARGO POD, AND THE LANDING GEAR WERE TORN OFF THE FUSELAGE. (-23) MR. SATTLER CONDUCTED THIS FLIGHT IN MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS AIRCRAFT IMPACTING A MOUNTAIN AT THE 10,500 FOOT LEVEL. HE HAD 5 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. ALL PERSONS WERE RESCUED. MR. SATTLER IS SUSPECTED OF CONDUCTING A PART 135 AIR TAXI OPERATION WITHOUT A PROPER PART 135 CERTIFICATE.

## 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 ANC98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA057), May 27, 1998: Cessna 206 (N5297U), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision. Factors in the accident were weather conditions consisting of a mountain wave, and…

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.
