What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 20, 2021 at approximately 1800 Alaska time, Cessna C-207A N9794M incurred substancial damage in a post landing fire. All 5 passenger including the pilot exited safely and were taken to the local hospital for a health check due to smoke inhalation.
These events occurred en-route to a village 10 miles from Bethel, Alaska. Passengers boarded at 1745. On a company CFR part 135 flight plan. PIC gave the exit briefing. Takeoff 1750. ELT light illumination on pilot panel (switch was in armed position) at 1755 cabin started to fill with smoke in-flight. Pilot decided to return to Bethel.
To remove electrical power to systems pilot placed master switch off, opened a vent window to breathe. Pilot momentarily turned master power on to make a mayday call and shut power back off. Aircraft landed on runway 1L in Bethel. Pilot reported no brakes or steering. Rolled to stop. Master power momentarily on to call the tower to report on the runway. Pilot reported seeing a flame at 4 o?clock position between pilot seats as he exited. Aircraft was consumed by flames. Bethel airport fire department extinguished fire.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 ALASKA TIME, CESSNA C-207A N9794M INCURRED SUBSTANCIAL DAMAGE IN A POST LANDING FIRE. ALL 5 PASSENGER INCLUDING THE PILOT EXITED SAFELY AND WERE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR A HEALTH CHECK DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION.
THESE EVENTS OCCURRED EN-ROUTE TO A VILLAGE 10 MILES FROM BETHEL, ALASKA. PASSENGERS BOARDED AT 1745. ON A COMPANY CFR PART 135 FLIGHT PLAN. PIC GAVE THE EXIT BRIEFING. TAKEOFF 1750. ELT LIGHT ILLUMINATION ON PILOT PANEL (SWITCH WAS IN ARMED POSITION) AT 1755 CABIN STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE IN-FLIGHT. PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO BETHEL.
TO REMOVE ELECTRICAL POWER TO SYSTEMS PILOT PLACED MASTER SWITCH OFF, OPENED A VENT WINDOW TO BREATHE. PILOT MOMENTARILY TURNED MASTER POWER ON TO MAKE A MAYDAY CALL AND SHUT POWER BACK OFF. AIRCRAFT LANDED ON RUNWAY 1L IN BETHEL. PILOT REPORTED NO BRAKES OR STEERING. ROLLED TO STOP. MASTER POWER MOMENTARILY ON TO CALL THE TOWER TO REPORT ON THE RUNWAY. PILOT REPORTED SEEING A FLAME AT 4 O?CLOCK POSITION BETWEEN PILOT SEATS AS HE EXITED. AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES. BETHEL AIRPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N9794M · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.