# Accident 20111129028059A: Cessna 207, Chuathbalak, AK, November 29, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2011, 19:27 local time
- Place: Chuathbalak, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: B7TA
- Location: 61.5739° N, 159.2903° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5739&lon=-159.2903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1673U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1673U-2017-09-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 207 (registry code 2073602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111129028059A

## Narrative

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

ON 11/29/2011 THE PILOT DEPARTED ANIAK TO PICK UP ONE PASSENGER AT CHUATHBALUK, ALASKA, 10 MILES TO THE EAST. THE WEATHER HAD BEEEN BELOW VFR MINIMUMS, BUT AT APPROXIMATELY 1905 IT IMPROVED TO 3 MILES OF VISIBILITY. THE PILOT DEPARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1920 AND THE PASSENGER SAW THE PILOT-ACTIVATED RUNWAY LIGHTS COME ON AT CHU AT APPROXIMATELY 1925. AT THAT TIME, THE PASSENGER COULD SEE "THE ENTIRE RUNWAY ALL THE WAY TO THE END". A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, SNOW BEGAN FALLING HEAVILY AND THE PASSENGER COULD NO LONGER SEE ACROSS THE RUNWAY. AT 1940 THE AIRPORT LIGHTS SHUT OFF.  SEARCH TEAMS LOCATED THE WRECKAGE OF THE C-207 APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES WEST OF CHU ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER AT 0145 11/30/2011. THE PLANE HAD HIT THE TOP OF A TREE, THEN LOST PART OF A WING IN ANOTHER. FROM THE INITIAL TREE IMPACT TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS ABOUT 170 FEET. THE PILOT DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH.NTSB AND FSDO REPRESENTATIVES WENT TO THE CRASH SITE ON 12/1/2011. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE CRASH WITH PARTS SPREAD OVER APPROXIMATELY 185 FEET. IT HAD SNOWED THE PRIOR NIGHT AND CONTINUED TO SNOW WHILE WE WERE THERE, HIDING SOME IMPACT SCARS AND BURYING SOME DEBRIS.  EVIDENCE POINTED TO A HIGH ENERGY IMPACT AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS WARM AT THE TIME, INDICATING THAT IT WAS RUNNING. THE PROPELLER WAS TORN FROM THE ENGINE AND HAD EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS TURNING WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND. WE COULD NOT TELL WHAT THE FUEL STATE HAD BEEN.

## 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 ANC12FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA009), Nov 29, 2011: Cessna 207 (N1673U), Chuathbaluk, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of situational awareness after an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with tree-covered terrain.

## Other reports on N1673U (1)

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

- [Accident 19980619019709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980619019709A), Jun 19, 1998: Cessna 207 (N1673U), Holy Cross, AK, Substantial damage. Losing oil pressure diverted for 4Z4. Lost power 3 mi short. Landed sandbar sheared nose gear. Wings hit trees. (.4)the certificated airline transport pilot,…

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.