What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 14, 2001, at approximately 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, being operated VFR, sustained substantial damag when it crashed in IFR weather conditions. The airplane was operated as public use for the state of Alaska state troopers. The private certificated pilot did not have instrument privileges on his certificate. The flight had originated at bethel, Alaska, with a destination of pilot station and had just departed kotlik, as an intermediate stop. The pilot stated that he realized he was on the north side of the yukon river and was concerned about the potential for a mid-air collision with another aircraft. He initiated a turn towards the other side of the river and lost visual reference with the ground, the aircraft struck the ground in cruise configuration.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 14, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 207 AIRPLANE, BEING OPERATED VFR, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAG WHEN IT CRASHED IN IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS PUBLIC USE FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA STATE TROOPERS. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT DID NOT HAVE INSTRUMENT PRIVILEGES ON HIS CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED AT BETHEL, ALASKA, WITH A DESTINATION OF PILOT STATION AND HAD JUST DEPARTED KOTLIK, AS AN INTERMEDIATE STOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE REALIZED HE WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE YUKON RIVER AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. HE INITIATED A TURN TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER AND LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN CRUISE CONFIGURATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.