# NTSB ANC01LA017: Cessna 207A, N7336U, Bethel, AK, November 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2000, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.810714, -161.84906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8107&lon=-161.8491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 51020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51020/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use all available runway. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, a short runway, a tailwind, and a slush-covered runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - slush covered (contributing factor) - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - object - fence ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot was departing runway 29, from intersection Echo. He noted that the gravel runway had a light accumulation of heavy, wet snow/slush, and estimated about 1,500 feet of runway remained from intersection Echo. During the departure roll, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied full right rudder to correct the veer. He was unable to correct the veer, so he closed the throttle, aborted the takeoff, and applied maximum braking. The airplane ran off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and struck a chain link fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Airport personnel reported that when departing runway 29 from intersection Echo, the published usable runway remaining is 1,350 feet. The published usable full-length of runway 29, is 1,850 feet. At the time of the accident winds were reported to be from 093 degrees (magnetic) at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2000, about 1345 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N7336U, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand cargo flight transporting mail under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by Flight Alaska, Inc., doing business as Yute Air Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company visual flight rules (VFR) flight following procedures were in effect for the flight to Kongiganak, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on November 3, the pilot reported that while taxiing from the parking apron, en route to the departure runway, the Bethel Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) advised him that an immediate departure would be possible if he was able to accept another runway, runway 29. The pilot said that after accepting the alternate runway, he taxied onto runway 29 at intersection Echo. He said runway 29 was a gravel runway that had a light accumulation of heavy, wet snow/slush, and estimated that he would have about 1,500 feet of runway remaining from intersection Echo. The pilot said while departing runway 29, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied full right rudder to correct the veer. He said that he was unable to correct the veer, so he closed the throttle, aborted the takeoff, and applied maximum braking. The airplane ran off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and struck a chain link fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Bethel tower personnel reported that when departing runway 29 from intersection Echo, the published usable remaining runway is 1,350 feet. In addition, published usable full-length of runway 29, is 1,850 feet. The closest weather observation station is Bethel. On November 3, at 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Sky conditions and ceiling, 4,000 feet broken, 10,000 feet broken, 14,000 feet overcast; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 093 degrees (magnetic) at 9 knots; temperature, 37 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.84. The pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB dated November 4. In his written report, the pilot wrote, in part: "After a few hundred feet I could feel the right main gear grabbing. I let off of the right rudder and it still continued. I began to drift from centerline, and found myself using more left rudder than right. Realizing that the right main gear was stuck or frozen, I thrusted my right foot on the right break in hopes of breaking it free. This maneuver failed so I immediately applied breaks and pulled the throttle to idle." On November 15, the operator reported that there were no postaccident mechanical anomalies noted with the accident airplane's engine, flight controls, or brakes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7336U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7336U-2017-10-30), registration cancelled 2017-10-30, S/N 20700405, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700405 - Airframe hours: 16703 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Yute Air Alaska, doing business as Yute Air Alaska - Registered owner: Flight Alaska, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 30, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: BET - Destination: DUY, KONGIGANAK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 29, 1,850 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,040 total, 240 in this make and model, 913 as pilot in command, 166 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 93° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BET ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001103041939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001103041939A), Nov 3, 2000: Cessna 207A, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) CE-207, N7336U was accelerating on takeoff roll. After a few hundred feet pilot could feel right main gear grabbing and he left off of right rudder and… ## Other investigations on N7336U (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 ANC07LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA003), Oct 13, 2006: Cessna 207 (N7336U), Tuntutuliak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in an undershoot and in-flight collision with a river embankment. Factors contributing to the accident were… 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. --- 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.