# Accident 19980917025379A: Cessna 207A, Kotzebue, AK, September 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 1998, 14:30 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Airport: Ralph Wien Memorial
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HYQA
- Location: 66.8848° N, 162.5981° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at RALPH WIEN MEML (OTZ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8848&lon=-162.5981&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1809Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1809Q-2017-04-07) (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: 8,891 total, 446 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98FA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98FA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980917025379A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED AT THE 1700 FOOT LEVEL OF MT. NOAK. THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJ. ACFT WAS DESTROYED. (.4) THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT DEPARTED ON A CFR PART 135 CARGO/MAIL FLIGHT FOR A REMOTE COASTAL VILLAGE. WHEN THE FLIGHT DID NOT REACH THE DESTINATION, AN AERIAL SEARCH WAS INITIATED.  THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED THE FOLLOWING DAY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, 21 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.  THE AIRPLANE HAD COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN.  AN AIRMET FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION WAS ISSUED FOR THE PILOT'S PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT.  A PILOT THAT DEPARTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE'S DEPARTURE, HAD A SIMILAR ROUTE OF FLIGHT.  HE CHARACTERIZED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANES ROUTE AS 'VERY LOW VISIBILITY WITH RAIN, FOG AND VARIED LAYERS OF CLOUD COVER.'  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHANGED HIS ROUTE IN ORDER TO AVOID THE WORSENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.  HE ADDED THAT WITH SATISFACTORY WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND GIVEN THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, THE STANDARD ROUTE OF FLIGHT WOULD BE DIRECTLY OVER THE MOUNTAIN THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH.

## 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 ANC98FA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98FA152), Sep 17, 1998: Cessna 207 (N1809Q), Kotzebue, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors associated with the accident were low ceilings, mountainous/hilly terrain features, rain, and fog.

## Other reports on N1809Q (3)

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

- [Incident 19911123061279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911123061279I), Nov 23, 1991: Cessna 207A (N1809Q), Aniak, AK, Minor damage. Pilot experienced engine problems en route. Returned to Aniak. Engine quit. Forced landing short of airport.
- [Incident 19890714053849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890714053849I), Jul 14, 1989: Cessna 207 (N1809Q), Bartlett Cove, AK, Minor damage. Made a hard landing because of poor visibility due to rain on windshield. Bounced and ran off end of runway.
- [Accident 19850511076742A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850511076742A), May 11, 1985: Cessna 207A (N1809Q), Emmonak, AK, Substantial damage. Was struck from the rear by 9975M, a company aircraft that made a climbing turn to avoid birds. Landed safely.

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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