19991207046769A

(-23) On December 7, 1999, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N1747U, was destroyed when the airplane collided with remote, snow covered terrain, about 49 miles west of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was operated by grant aviation inc. anchorage, Alaska. The flight was being conducted under title 14, CFR part 135, as a scheduled commuter flight 261, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot, and the five passengers aboard, all received fatal injuries. Company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Bethel airport, Bethel, Alaska at 1236, and was enroute to nightmute, tokssok, and tununak, Alaska. When the flight failed to return to Bethel by 1530, company personnel initiated a phone search, and discovered that the flight had never reached nightmute, the first scheduled destination. A company aerial search was initiated at about 1600, the flight was officially reported overdue to the FAA at 1713 a search was begun and the flight was located the next day, December 8, 1999 at 1430L along the route of flight. No ELT signal had been received from the aircraft. The closest weather at the time was Bethel, Alaska which was reporting sky conditions and visibility, ceiling 2,000 overcast; visibility 10 statute miles; wind;calm, temperature;minus 1 f; dew point, minus 7.