# Accident 19981008045999A: Cessna 207A, Napaskiak, AK, October 8, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 8, 1998, 13:15 local time
- Place: Napaskiak, AK
- Airport: Napaskiak Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EPUA
- Location: 60.8108° N, 161.8502° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8108&lon=-161.8502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6874M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6874M-2018-03-16) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,542 total, 1,608 in this make and model, 205 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981008045999A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, WITH ONE PASSENGER, WAS DEPARTING FOR ANOTHER AIRPORT ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, THE ENGINE SURGED. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE POINT OF THE RUNWAY.  HE SAID HE PERFORMED AN ENGINE POWER CHECK WHICH APPEARED SATISFACTORY, AND CONTINUED A SECOND TAKEOFF.  THE PILOT DID NOT RECHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM FOR CONTAMINATION.  FOLLOWING THE SECOND TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FEET MSL, AND THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED TO IDLE. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DID NOT RESTORE POWER.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, AND RECEIVED IMPACT DAMAGE TO BOTH WING FUEL TANKS.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.  THE PILOT SAID HE DRAINED EVERY FUEL SUMP ON THE AIRPLANE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, AND AGAIN BEFORE BEGINNING THE FLIGHT TO PICK UP THE PASSENGER.  FOLLOWING RETRIEVAL OF THE AIRPLANE, AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE.  HE FOUND ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.  ONE WING SUMP DRAIN WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY SILT.  WITH CLEAN FUEL, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RAN AT AN IDLE.  THE ENGINE LATER PRODUCED FULL POWER ON AN ENGINE TEST STA ND. (-23) AFTER TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 19, AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT TURNED TO THE WEST, ATTEMPTED RE-START AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THICK ALDERS AND TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT AND SOLE PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF MINOR INJURY. MINUTES BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT, THE PILOT ABORTED A TAKE-OFF BECAUSE OF ENGINE SURGING, RETURNED TO TAKE-OFF POSITION, RAN UP ENGINE TO HIS SATISFACTION AND TOOK OFF FOR THE FLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC99LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA002), Oct 8, 1998: Cessna 207A (N6874M), Napaskiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection to remove all contaminated fuel from the fuel system. Factors in the accident were the pilot's inadequate planning/decision to continue a second takeoff…

## Other reports on N6874M (2)

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

- [Incident 19970703024499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970703024499I), Jul 3, 1997: Cessna 207A (N6874M), Borough, AK, Minor damage. Taxied for takeoff short soft strip. Became stuck. Got loose. Slow speed lift off. Settled in water off end strip.
- [Accident 19810509026619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810509026619A), May 9, 1981: Cessna 207A (N6874M), Marshall, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed when pilot aborted landing and attempted go around. Factor was turbulence.

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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